MCHS Newsletter
November, 2023
16th ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PROGRAM 2023
This year’s Veterans Day Program will take place on Monday, November 13th at 9:00 a.m. in the Marengo Community High School gymnasium. All veterans and community members are invited to attend. Past and present area veterans will be honored. Our keynote speaker is United States Navy Veteran Lalena "Zoe" Magnetta.
Lalena "Zoe" Magnetta is a U.S. Navy Veteran E-6 First Class Petty Officer whose call to service began in the wake of 9/11. Zoe served 11 years Active Duty as an Aviation Electronics Technician, then as a Recruit Division Commander at Naval Station Great Lakes. She was deployed on Aircraft Carriers USS Dwight D Eisenhower (2006-2007) and USS John C Stennis (2008), participating in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Zoe's Commendations include (2) Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals, (1) Navy Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Campaign Award, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Recruit Training Command Service Medal.
If you are unable to attend the program, you can listen to the ceremony live on Marengo Radio WXMR 94.3 FM. Approximately 2,000 community members and veterans are expected to attend. Please come to honor and show your support of our United States Servicemen and Servicewomen. It truly means a lot to each and every one of them to know how much we appreciate their sacrifices for our country. Hope to see you there!
PRIDE EXAM EXEMPTIONS FOR FIRST SEMESTER!
While finals and the end of the first semester seem far away, they will be here before we know it! Keep in mind that MCHS offers EXAM EXEMPTIONS for both first and second semesters: freshmen may be allowed one exemption, sophomores may be allowed up to two exemptions, and juniors and seniors may be able to use as many exemptions as they qualify for!
Students must meet all the criteria in academics, attendance, and behavior to receive an exam exemption. It is the student’s and parent/guardian's responsibility to ensure the accuracy of the student’s academic, attendance, and disciplinary record. Parents/guardians are required to call in to the Attendance Office regarding a student’s absence within 48 hours. The administration will not be reviewing student or parent/guardian requests to correct any attendance/discipline once students have been determined ineligible to receive this incentive.
- Students and parents/guardians must sign and date the exam exemption criteria and eligibility handbook receipt to first be considered eligible for this incentive. Failure to return the signed form to the Administration Office will automatically disqualify the student from exempting finals, regardless if they have met all other qualifications;
- Students must have an overall grade of 85% or greater in classes where exemption is requested at the time the report is run;
- Students cannot have incomplete work for the class in which they are exempting;
- Students cannot have unserved disciplinary consequences which were assigned from previous disciplinary action(s);
- No more than 4 tardies total per semester;
- No more than 2 lunch detentions per semester;
- No more than 1 after school detention per semester;
- No Saturday Detentions, ISS, or OSS during the semester;
- Deadlines must be met by students applying for exemptions including getting teacher
signatures. Teachers have the option to not grant exemptions in their class even if criteria is met by the student.
Any questions, comments, or appeals should be directed to administration as soon as possible.
Now is the time to focus on your academics so you can reap the rewards of your hard work in the future!
SELF DEFENSE IN PE WITH MARINES
INTRODUCTION TO SKYLINE
If you’re an MCHS student or family member, you may have seen Skyline or Entrepreneurship mentioned, but never understood what it is.
In short, VEI is a business experience that prepares its students to fulfill financially secure futures, partnering with schools all across the world. Giving students a first-hand experience working in an online firm of their creation, schools create a class curriculum and follow VEI assignments to learn a vast scope of what the business field offers, and giving firsthand opportunities to students at trade shows, among other VEI trips. Established in 2018, Skyline is the official VEI firm for the Dual Credit Entrepreneurship class at MCHS, this year notably led by our CEO, Amirah Timoumi, who is currently leading Skyline towards our upcoming Tennessee trade show in mid-November, the first Tennessee trip in the history of the class at MCHS!
MCHS SEPTEMBER STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
The PRIDE committee of Marengo Community High School recognized eleven students selected by the faculty as “September Student Spotlight Students.” This month’s theme was Kindness, so the students were nominated for showing kindness in many ways. These students are: (left to right) Cadence Burger (senior), Lilly Drolen (senior), Lilly Kunzer (senior), Mahala Englehart (senior), Serenity Skiba (freshman) and Fatima Pina (junior). Not pictured are: Teagan Barrett (freshman), Brent Volkening (freshman), Yared Barranco-Carachure (freshman) and Angel Martinez (freshman). These students were treated to a pizza lunch provided by Joe’s Place restaurant.
MARCHING BAND
Congrats to the Marching Band for a successful season! Throughout the season, the band has been performing extremely well with two Third Places, two Second Places, and one First Place win with an additional caption of Best Drum Majors! They performed across the state and hosted the Settlers' Day Marching Band Competition, which saw nine bands come into Marengo and compete for the Grand Prize. Their show, Geode: the beauty within, featured soloist Lilli Ghastin on flute and drum majors Cadence Leucht and Caleb Cox.
MCHS THEATRE PRESENTS WAR OF THE WORLDS: THE PANIC BROADCAST
Written by Joe Landry
Marengo Community High School Theatre Department is proud to present War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast, a radio drama written by Joe Landry, November 16th-18th in the MCHS Auditorium.
The classic sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds, written by British author H.G. Wells, depicts the chaos that ensues following an alien invasion of Earth--but all it took to cause real-life panic in the streets of America was Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation, which listeners mistook for an actual news report. Now, ten years later, the WBFR radio ensemble recreates the colorful events surrounding the infamous evening, including the full original broadcast. Complete with vintage commercials and live sound effects, this radio-play-within-a-radio-play is a thrilling homage to the form's golden age and a timely reminder of what fear can do to a society.
The MCHS production will run for four performances:
Thursday, November 16th at 7pm
Friday, November 17th at 7pm
Saturday, November 18th at 2pm
Saturday, November 18th at 7pm
All tickets are $10 and seating will be open (no reserved seats). Tickets can be purchased online beginning October 30th at mchs.booktix.com or at the door at no additional cost.
The production is directed by Mrs. Kate Wignes, MCHS English teacher, with technical direction by Ms. Tara Oakes, art teacher at Locust Elementary. Mrs. Anya Nelson of MCHS is designing costumes.
Student actors are as follows: Lawson Schmidt (Freddie Filmore), Athan Poggas (Harry Haywood), Natalia Rodriguez (Lana Sherwood), Mahala Englehart (Jackie Laurents), and in the ensemble: McKinley Shines, Jo Susong, Bee Papstein, Bruce Janjic Lopes, Sakae Marquez, and Layla Nichols.
Student technicians involved at the time of this announcement are: Ro Harhen, Juliannah Harhen, Aztiri Mandujano, Sean Keller, Brooke Ulen, and Leiann Mann.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS
Congratulations to the following students who were inducted into the MCHS National Honor Society on Thursday, October 19th!
JUNIORS: Alten Bergbreiter, Dayna Carr, Julia Cieslak, Lydia Cieslak, Nikole Czepczynski, Sara Czepczynski, Gabrielle Gieseke, Madelyn Gieseke, Paige Haggard, Alixandra Hartmann, Morgan Hasa, Colin Heinz, Mikayla Heldt, Kylee Jensen, Quinn Lechner, Krystal Macias,
Ryan McKee, Carly Musschoot, Jillyan Ortega, Emilie Polizzi, Aidan Pollnow, Alyssa Pollnow, Brock Riebock, Addison Sanchez, Lawson Schmidt, Taylor Schumann, Sydnee Slavin,
Devin Storti, Vivian Szostak, Rochelle Tremmel, Samantha Tuohey, Justin Zarate, Helenna Zont
SENIORS: Ava Kanaly, Madelyn Miceli, Erika Montes Xelhua, and Caden Sauder
NHS ROADSIDE CLEANUP
NHS TRICK OR TREATING FOR CANNED GOODS
READING CLUB ATTENDS CAT’S CRADLE PLAY
On Sunday, October 1st, the MCHS Reading Club enjoyed the performance of Cat’s Cradle, based on the novel by Kurt Vonegut. It was performed at the Lifeline Theatre in Chicago, and six members of the Reading Club came on the field trip.
We arrived at the theatre around 2 pm, for the 2:30 matinee. The ensemble cast did an excellent job with Vonnegut’s satirical novel, showing us how scientific research, banana republic politics & a new religion based on lies could bring about the end of the world. The performance was enjoyed by all of us, and we stopped for ice cream on the way home, which was the perfect end to our trip.
AFS CREATES DIA DE LOS MUERTOS DISPLAY
STUDENT SERVICES NEWS
PREVENTION & EARLY INTERVENTION IS KEY!
Marengo Community High School District 154 is committed to providing all students with the skills they need to be life-long learners and productive citizens. At its core, this mission means District 154 is dedicated to helping all students achieve career and college readiness as a means of living a rewarding and fulfilling life. Sometimes, adolescents stray from this path and experiment with or struggle with substance abuse. Many area schools are taking measures to prevent this phenomenon and intervene when substance abuse occurs. If you are concerned your teen is at risk to use substances or may be using substances, services (at school) may be available to intervene.
District 154 has partnered with Partnering for Preventions’ owner, Dawn M. Schoen (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor), to provide prevention and intervention services 1.5 days a week at Marengo Community High School. Dawn is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and has worked in the field since 1999 providing both substance abuse prevention and treatment services to adults and adolescents. Dawn has experience working in all levels of care including prevention, early intervention, detox, and inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Services may be available to students, parents, and staff. Dawn can be reached at 224.241.2192 or dawn@partneringforprevention.net. To make a referral for your teen to be seen please contact a school counselor, a school social worker, a building administrator, or Dawn Schoen herself.
DID YOU KNOW?
• In 2022, the National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 2.5 million youth use e-cigarettes — also known as vapes
• One JUUL pod contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine
• Over 99% of vapes are found to contain nicotine even when they advertise they do not
• Nicotine interferes with the normal growth and function of the adolescent brain, which is still developing through age 25, harming the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control
• November 16th is the Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society! If you want to quit, YOU CAN!
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2024-25 school is not available until mid December. The FAFSA may be filed by using the 2022 tax information for the students and parents. Our best county resource on financial aid questions is the MCC Financial Aid Office (phone number 815-455-8761).
FAFSA is a graduation requirement for the Class of 2024. If you would like to opt out of filling this out please submit this form to your Counselor immediately.
By End of December 2023: 2024-25 FAFSA® Available
Because changes resulting from the FAFSA Simplification Act will take time to properly implement, the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is expected to be available in December 2023 (rather than in October). ISAC anticipates availability of the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2024-25 academic year to coincide with the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA.
With the 2024-25 FAFSA:
· up to 20 different colleges can be listed on the online FAFSA and have information sent to them (in prior years, only ten colleges could be listed);
· due to a change in the methodology used to determine aid, a Student Aid Index (SAI) – rather than an expected family contribution (EFC) – is used to measure the student's (and, if applicable, the family's) ability to pay for college;
· the new need analysis formula no longer factors the number of family members attending college into the calculation;
· separate criteria to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant Program, linking eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level, make program funds available to more students; and,
· revisions to several of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid are required, including a new interface to directly receive federal tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
SCHOLARSHIPS will be sent out through Remind or posted in Xello . Senior students and parents can sign up for Remind by texting @marengo24 to the phone number 81010 or click here. Be sure to apply now to help pay for college tomorrow! Local scholarships will begin to be available starting second semester.
Freshman Meetings Happening Now! Counselors are meeting with freshman students to review the transition to high school, discuss career ideas, and create a four year plan within their portal. Be sure to ask your student about his/her meeting.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Welcome from the Athletic Department!
We want to congratulate the Girls Golf team on their Regional Championship. This is the first time in school history that our Girls Golf program has been Regional Champions. Our Cross Country team had two runners, freshman Amy Smith and senior Marcus Ray, advance to the IHSA Sectionals. The Girls Tennis team finished in 6th place at the IHSA Sectionals; this is the highest finish in the postseason contest since early 2000s.
Winter sports have kicked off with Boys Bowling and Competitive Cheer. We are looking forward to the start of Girls Basketball on October 30th. Boys Basketball and Wrestling begin on November 6th and Girls Bowling rolls their first ball down the lane on November 13th.
Meet the Teams night for winter sports has a new date: Thursday November 9th. The schedule looks like this:
6:00 p.m. Feed the Players and Coaches
6:30 p.m. Introduction of Teams
6:50 p.m. Wrestling Matches
7:15 p.m. Cheer Routine
7:25 p.m. Girls Basketball Scrimmage
7:50 p.m. Boys Basketball Scrimmage
*** Times are approximate
Picture day for winter sports is still going to be on Friday, November 10th.
MCHS athletic website has a new address: https://schools.snap.app/Marengo. Snap, formerly known as 8 to 18, is our athletic website and has all the information that you will need. The website has our current, most up to date schedules, rosters and contact information.
Here are some upcoming dates of important information:
October 30th: Girls Basketball begins
November 6th: Boys Basketball and Wrestling begins
November 9th: Meet the Teams Night for Winter Sports
November 10th: Winter Sports Picture Day
November 13th: Girls Bowling begins
Parents… We are looking for parents to join the booster club. They meet on the second Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the MCHS commons. Next meeting is on November 14th. We are looking for parents to help with concessions, apparel sales, First National Bank Challenge and other booster events. This group has been able to support all the sports programs at MCHS.
Our athletic director, Dwain Nance, can be reached at (815) 568 - 6511 ext. 1612 or nanced@mchs154.org.
VOLLEY FOR A CURE
The MCHS Volleyball Program hosted their 13th annual Volley For The Cure event on Monday October 16, 2023, along with Richmond Burton High School. The commons had around 30 tables with 101 raffle items/baskets and gift cards along with 29 silent auction items. Items included homemade craft items, fire pit with supplies to make s’mores and wagon, tailgating items including chairs and pop up, toolbox including drill and additional supplies, a Date Night basket, White Sox tickets, Ice Hog tickets, a box for 25 people from the Schaumburg Boomers, a dental care basket, and MANY MANY MORE beautiful items. The money raised this year will be donated to local area women and their families. Total money raised is yet to be determined.
During the ceremony, honorees were called down on the floor and greeted by the Varsity Volleyball players and received pink carnations. Former graduate Jessie Ibarra Kostro spoke to the crowd. Her willingness to share her personal story was touching and appreciated by all. Thank you, Jessie!
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all the area businesses and individuals that make this event possible and so successful each year. A special thank you to the 2023 VFTC committee members: Nicole Frohling, McKenzie Karns Miletta, Julie Miceli, Renee Andrews, Basia Kirchhoff, Wendi Aubry, Amanda Gray, Jodi Johnson, Christine Noe, Shawna Zont, Allison Jasinski, and Becky Chayer.
The MCHS NHS and HOSA organizations worked along with the volleyball players and committee members in setting up the tables, decorating, and selling raffle tickets and t-shirts the night of the event. Thank you to all the student volunteers and their advisors. We truly appreciate ALL who made this event possible.
CROSS COUNTRY
Both Marcus Ray and Amy Smith had successful postseason runs for the cross country team! At the conference meet, Marcus was 5th and Amy was 6th, earning them all-conference honors. In the regional meet, Marcus was the second overall individual qualifier to sectionals, placing 18th. Amy was the 4th individual qualifier in the girls race, placing 24th overall.