MCHS Newsletter
November, 2021
A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Fall is well underway and we have a month and a half left in our first semester. At this time last year, we offered a hybrid model of student attendance where students were able to attend school in person only two days a week. This year, we are serving all students with full in-person classes five days a week. Last year our athletics and activities schedules were significantly modified, and this year we played our regular schedule of fall sports. Our football team has qualified for playoffs, the Boys Cross Country Team placed 3rd at Regionals qualifying the team to run in Sectionals, and the soccer team advanced to Sectionals for the first time in MCHS history (read more about this in our athletic section of the newsletter)! We are looking forward to a theatre production later in November, and students have been able to participate in many additional activities as well. We are so pleased to be able to return to some academic and extracurricular normalcy.
With increased school activities along with non-school sponsored social gatherings, we also saw an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates and exclusions from attendance at school during the middle of October. I have received some questions from parents regarding the threshold required to make a change in our instructional delivery and next steps that will be taken to prevent further spread. MCHS continues to work closely with the health department to contact trace and determine required practices and mitigation strategies. You may have read that after an outbreak, a neighboring school district was given several options by the health department to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 within a school. The first option was to take an adaptive pause of 14 days, where students would attend classes remotely. The other two options offered by the health department were to allow vaccinated students to remain in school while unvaccinated students received remote instruction, or to allow students who participated in bi-weekly COVID-19 testing to remain in school.
At this time, 87% of our staff are fully vaccinated and the remaining 13% are testing weekly for COVID-19. Only 18% of our students have turned in their vaccination cards to the school nurse, however. If your student has been vaccinated and has not turned in their card, please do so as soon as possible. This will help provide the health department important information when making decisions in the future. Having accurate statistics of our fully vaccinated student population will also help administration when making decisions regarding hosting special events such as a Winter Formal and Prom.
Our goal remains having in-person instruction and all extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year. Please help us by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance. Please continue to monitor your student’s symptoms and keep them home if they are experiencing one of the following: a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius or have one or more symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new onset of moderate to severe headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your student has GI symptoms including vomiting and/or diarrhea, they must stay home for 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. If your student is ill, please contact Mrs. Seemann at 815-568-6511 x1302 to report their absence and the specific symptom(s) which your child is experiencing. The school nurse will follow up with you to provide guidance. If you are instructed to take a COVID-19 test, please be sure to take a PCR test. No other tests will be accepted. If the test result is negative, please continue to stay home from school if you are still experiencing symptoms.
Should MCHS have to change our instructional delivery, we will notify our school community through emails, voicemails, the MCHS website, and Facebook postings.
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:
Thursday, December 16, 2021
7:00 am - 7:45 am Zero Hour
7:50 am - 9:00 am 1st Hour
9:10 am - 10:20 am 2nd Hour
10:30 am - 11:40 am 4th Hour / Lunch
11:20 am - 12:30 pm 5th Hour / Lunch
12:40 pm - 1:50 pm 3rd Hour
Friday, December 17, 2021
7:50 am - 9:00 am 6th Hour
9:10 am - 10:20 am 7th Hour
10:30 am - 11:40 am 8th Hour
EXAM GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS:
- Students must arrive at school in time for their first exam for the day.
- Once on campus, they must stay until they have completed their last exam.
- Students may not leave an exam until the end of the exam period.
- Students assigned to Assisted Study Hall, Numeracy Lab, or Resource Study Skills are required to attend class except during the 8th hour finals period.
- Students arriving after 7:50 am should enter the school by the commons.
- There will be quiet study in the commons during the day.
- Students who need to miss an exam must fill out a prearranged absence form and get administrative approval. This will include notifying teachers.
- Students are not to be in the halls during exams. No hall passes will be issued.
- Buses will run at 1:57 pm on Thursday, and at 11:47 am on Friday.
- Students are required to be in attendance during the period an exam is scheduled. Students that are not approved to miss the exam will receive an F on the exam.
- Students out of school suspended will be assigned a make-up time and date through the Administration Office.
- Students who need to make up an exam must contact their teacher to make arrangements for a make-up exam following Winter Break, unless pre-arrangements have been made to take finals during the break.
VETERANS DAY PROGRAM 2021
On Thursday, November 11, 2021, we will commemorate Veterans Day through multiple presentations. WXMR 94.3 FM Marengo Radio will broadcast all events.
Outdoor Activities (Community is welcome to attend)
8:00 am - 8:30 am American Legion Ceremony at Calvin Spencer Park
8:45 am - 9:25 am 2nd hour Humanities presentation by Morgan Coffman at Circle Drive
9:30 am - 10:15 am Mr. Coffman’s presentation on WWII artillery vehicles at Circle Drive
Panel discussions will take place in the MCHS Auditorium beginning 10:20 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. Although these sessions for MCHS students are not open to the public, they will be broadcast live by Marengo Radio. Tune in to WXMR 94.3 FM to listen.
A roll call of local Veterans will be announced during the day. If you are a Veteran and have not participated in the MCHS Veteran's Day program in the past two years, please contact Dawn Seemann at seemannd@mchs154.org if you would like to be added to the Roll Call.
IT’S TIME TO ORDER SCHOOL PORTRAITS FROM VIP!
School photos/portraits from your recent picture day are now uploaded to an online gallery for parents to view and order. Please follow these easy steps to look up your student's photos:
1. Go to vipis.com
2. Type in your school (Marengo High School in Marengo, IL.)
3. Click on “School portraits”
4. Enter your student’s information
Even if you are not ordering photos, you have the option to pick your yearbook/composite photo, however, be sure to do so before Friday, November 19, 2021 or one will be automatically selected for you. Please contact VIP with any questions at support@vipis.com.
FIT FOR LIFE
SFC Chad Willie from the Illinois Army National Guard worked with students in the Fit For Life Classes on Tuesday, October 12th. The students took part in several relay races and competed for prizes.
DUAL CREDIT HAPPENS HERE
Dual Credit Happens Here signs are posted outside MCHS classrooms. These signs, provided by MCC, are to raise student awareness of the ability to earn college credits by completing specific classes at MCHS. Classes are awarded credit based on teacher criteria and curriculum through a memo of understanding. MCHS has increased the number of dual credit classes offered, most are in the Career and Technical Education area.
Dual credit is awarded for BNAT, CADD, CADD II, 3D Design, Architectural Drafting, Automotive Occupations, Introduction to Business, Entrepreneurship Enterprise, Speech Communication, Floral Design I, Floral Design II and Fit for Life. Detailed information is available in the curriculum guide.
AROUND THE SCHOOL
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
The Juniorette Club members packed meals at Feed My Starving Children as a service project. The Juniorette Club participates in community service activities to develop leadership skills and serve our community.
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: Gianna Almeida, Michaela Almeida, Alexandra Brackmann, Jordan Brogdon, Trevor Bruski, Madeline Christopher, Elizabeth Dominguez, Grace Durkin, Jessica Elqunni, Richmond Fredrickson, Carter Heimsoth, Addie Johnson, Nathan Kagan, Joseph Leibrandt, Zanfina Ljumani, Mia Lulinski, Jessica Minogue, Devin Moehrlin, Tzitlali Montes, Araceli Popoca Leuth, Aspen Rado, Valeria Rivera, Evelyn Ruiz, Reese Samuelson, Patrick Signore, Kalee Skow, Hunter Smith, Jonathan Snelgrove, Omar Rimoumi, Amanda Trotz, Camden Weirich, Cheyenne Welker, Zoe Whetham, and Grace Wzientek.
SENIORS: Sarah Bohlander, Samantha DiMaria, Evan Hartmann, Summer Kunzer,
Nicholas Martin, Madeline Morse, Alexis Mortimer, Abigail Rohe, Callahan Struck,
Benjamin Toby, and Matthew Volkening.
ROADSIDE CLEANUP
The MCHS chapter of NHS spent a couple hours on Friday, October 22nd cleaning up Route 20 in Marengo. They collected more than 25 bags of garbage. Great work!
PRESENTING: PETER/WENDY NOVEMBER 18-20
The MCHS Theatre Department is proud to announce the cast for our 2021 Fall Play, PETER/WENDY, which will run November 18th-20th.
PETER - Richmond Fredrickson
WENDY - Natalia Rodriguez
LOST BOYS/MERMAIDS- Jordan Susong, Brody Donner, Nelli Quintana-Ayala
THE TIGER LILLY- Josie Buddenbaum
TINKER BELL - Lilly Drolen
MRS. DARLING/HOOK - Grace Durkin
MR. DARLING/SMEE - Lawson Schmidt
PIRATES - Annabella Papstein, Mahala Englehart, Ro Harhen
GUIDANCE NEWS
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Please ask your counselor if you have questions about filling out the FAFSA form. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2022-23 school year is available now at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA may be filed by using the 2020 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 2022. If you would like to opt out of filling this out please submit this form to your Counselor immediately.
FAFSA Workshop for the Class of 2022
Date: November 9th @ 6-7pm
Where: Virtual
Cost: Free
Important Note: RSVP to Maureen Olson by November 5th at 815-334-5873, in guidance, or olsomm@mchs154.org. Please include your student's name and the number of people attending. Space is limited.
What you need to fill out the FAFSA form:
· Complete the FAFSA on the web worksheet. www.fafsa.ed.gov
· Apply for a FSA ID (one for the student, one for the parent) at FSA ID link
· Have the following with you. Failure to do so may result in not being able to complete the application.
1. Student’s 2020 U.S. 1040 and W-2 forms
2. Parent’s 2020 U.S. 1040 and W-2 forms
3. Student’s driver’s license and social security card
4. Parent’s social security cards
5. Records of total untaxed income for 2020 (i.e. public aid, social security, Veteran's benefits, child support)
6. Student’s alien registration number, if a permanent resident
7. Records of current asset information (i.e. saving account, checking account)
8. Month and year of marriage, separation, divorce or other change in marital status
9. Records of net worth of investments for both parents and students
Note: Net Worth = Current Value minus Debt
Scholarships will be sent out through Remind (Senior students and parents can sign up by texting @marengo22 to the phone number 81010), posted on the guidance website, and placed on the guidance bulletin board. Seniors - 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 creating an four year plan within their portal. Be sure to ask your student about his/her meeting.
AFS Scholarships Available
Have you ever thought about attending high school in another country? Take time to consider it and explore the scholarship opportunities below which can make the dream a reality. Informational flyer about AFS - student exchange program LINK There are national scholarships, with upcoming application deadlines.
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship is a fully-funded bilateral opportunity for American high school students to study abroad in Germany for a year, and for German students to come to the US for a year. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2021 at 11:59PM Pacific.
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study
(YES Abroad) scholarship allows students to build bridges of understanding in countries of strategic importance such as Egypt, Malaysia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Thailand, and more for an academic year. The deadline to apply is December 8, 2021 at 4:00pm Eastern.
National Strategic Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship provides an opportunity for students to learn a language of critical importance (e.g. Hindi, Korean, Russian, and more) for the summer or a year. The deadline to apply is November 4 at 4:00pm Eastern.
And of course many other partner countries. https://www.afsusa.org/study-abroad/#afs-nav-find-your-program
ATHLETIC NEWS
Winter Sports Are Back!
After delayed and shortened seasons last year, our winter sports will be running on their normal timelines this year. Boys Bowling and Competitive Cheer started on October 25th. Girls Basketball begins on November 1st. Boys Basketball and Wrestling begin on November 8th and Girls Bowling begins on November 15th. Get registered at marengo.8to18.com. First day practice times will be posted on www.marengoathletics.com.
MARENGO WINTER SPORTS MATTRESS SALE
Marengo High School Winter Sports are having a one day only mattress sale on November 13th from 10:00 am-5:00 pm. The main gym at the high school will be transformed into a mattress store. Significantly discounted prices will be available on brand name mattresses and a portion of the sales will benefit all winter sports including basketball, bowling, cheer, and wrestling. Please come support Marengo Athletics and treat yourself to a good night's sleep!
BOYS SOCCER MAKES HISTORY!
Congratulations to the Boys Soccer Team for becoming regional champions for the first time in school history. Goals were scored by Tyler Bittenbender, Evan Hartmann, and Tyler Meesak with assists from Jacob McCarthy and Tyler Meesak. The game went into overtime on Friday, then it was suspended till Saturday and ended up going into penalty kicks. The game winning penalty kick was made by Evan Fashingbauer! Congratulations to Matthew Burley for being named co-goalie of the year in the KRC conference and to Juan Lopez for earning All-Conference for soccer.
FOOTBALL
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
The Boys Cross Country Team finished second at the conference meet on Saturday, October 23, 2021. Marcus Ray in 8th led the boys, and was joined in All-Conference honors by Preston Bailey (11th) and Patrick Signore (12th). Ruby Escorza was our girls' all conference runner in 10th.
KRC All Conference Boys Team including Marcus Ray (8th) Preston Bailey (11th) and Patrick Signore (12th)
KRC All Conference Girls Team including Ruby Escorza (10th) fourth from left
The varsity boys XC team does hill work in preparation for sectionals. They qualified by placing 3rd of 11 teams at the Fuller Regionals
VOLLEY FOR A CURE
The MCHS Volleyball Program hosted their annual Volley For The Cure night on Wednesday October 20, 2021. We hosted the event along with Harvard High School. There were 64 raffle and 19 silent auction donations/baskets from individuals and businesses from around the area. The money raised this year will be donated to local area women from the Marengo area who have been diagnosed and are seeking treatment for breast cancer. Total money raised was approximately $4,500.00.
During the ceremony, honorees were called down on the floor and were greeted by the varsity players and received pink carnations.
A BIG thank you goes out to the area businesses and individuals that make this event possible and so successful year after year. We also want to say a special thank you to the 2021 parent committee members which include: Laurie Jasinski, Cathy Simonini, Vicky Rohe, Jennie Adamson, Kimberly Johnson, Jeannie Klaassens, Nicole Frohling, Basia Kirchhoff, Michelle Polizzi, Jodi Johnson, Chantel Splinter, Cindy Hoey, Lisa Vito, Lisa Kunde, Rayne Hoey, and Becky Chayer. The MCHS HOSA organization also worked along with the committee members in setting up the tables, decorating, and selling the raffle tickets and t-shirts. We appreciate ALL who made this event possible.