Wildcat Press Newsletter
Feb 28, 2021 Vol. 30
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Principal's Message
Hello Wildcat Pride,
Last week in my faculty newsletter I shared with my team how interested I was in the Mars Perseverance landing. The fact that it was actually within my lifetime that President Kennedy sent us on quest and we accomplished man on the moon. How far we have come. I love the idea that one of Mesquites students may be the one to discover the next big thing. The cure for cancer, the next big App, or write the next great novel.
I find outside the box thinkers so important to our society, the people who look out for others and try to leave this place better than they found it. As a veteran one of the things I am passionate about is PTSD, and taking care of those that lived up to their oath. One outside the box organization is Team Rubicon, they respond quickly to disasters all over the world, but what makes them different is many of their volunteers are veterans and first responders with PTSD. The idea is that take these people who went into horrible situations, did and had done to them horrible things, and they go back into horrible situations and get to fix and repair. They have seen tremendous results, and helped thousands of people, both volunteers and victims. I love this idea that we can flip a scenario by changing the narrative.
We know this year has been really tough and we need to flop our narrative, we need your help. Please talk with your students, help them process, if they need academic help reach out to teachers and counselors. If they need social emotional help reach out to their counselors or Administrator we have resources or can direct you to them. Please help us help your students.
Friday March 5th is a half day and then we hit spring break. Students return to school on March 16. Get a break and have some fun. Even if you go on vacation this is a great time for your students to catch up if they are struggling. Please be aware that if your student is trying out for spring sports, they will probably have practice over the break.
Thanks and enjoy the break.
Rod Huston
Principal
Mesquite High School
@MHSAZ_Principal
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MHS Administrative Team!
Mrs. Marguerite Brown
Assistant Principal
Activities and Clubs
Grade Level: Freshman
Juniors Last Name O-Z
@MHSWildcat_News
Mr. Rudy Alvarado
Assistant Principal
Athletic Director
Grade Level: Sophomores
Juniors Last Name E-N
@MesquiteAthDept
Mrs. Mitzi Escobar
Assistant Principal
Registration & Academics
Grade Level: Seniors
Juniors Last Name A-D
@Mhsescobar
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March Calendar
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Wildcat Activities Announcement
Gilbert Golden Scholars
This week we will be celebrating our students who have achieved the Gilbert academic distinction of a Golden Scholar. A Gilbert Golden Scholar is a student who has a grade point average of 3.8 or higher at the end of semester one, three, five and seven. They must also have no F’s or I’s on the transcript, nor can they have a non-competitive grade.
A total of 238 Mesquite High Students are receiving this distinction during their 3rd hour on Friday, March 5th.
To the students receiving this distinction, Mesquite could not be more proud of your dedication and perseverance during this exceptionally difficult time.
Upcoming Fundraisers
STUCO - Thursday March 4th at Mod Pizza 830 W Warner Rd.
Sports Medicine - Wednesday March 10th at Chipotles Grill 1546 N Cooper Rd from 5-9pm. Bring the flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you're supporting the cause for Sports Medicine Club at Mesquite.
Future Events
Golden Scholar Presentation - March 5th
Virtual Talent Show - March 18th
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Seniors Corner! Class of 2021!
Attention Seniors!
We want to recognize your accomplishments! Please complete the 2021 Senior Scholarship Survey here. This form must be filled out and submitted by Wednesday, April 7, 2021 in order to be included in the MHS Scholarship Recognition Program.
Cap and Gown Information
If you have not yet ordered your cap and gown, there is still time! Click on the link below:
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1034683/Mesquite-High-School/
Caps/gowns/announcements will be distributed during both lunch hours on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 in the auditorium lobby.
Chandler Gilbert Community College
Are you interested in attending Chandler Gilbert Community College after graduation? We will be hosting ongoing application workshops every Monday and Wednesday during the months of March & April. Just walk into the Career Center during the lunch periods (4th & 5th) and get started with your registration process! One-on-one appointments are also available here.
In order to have a smooth application process, please come prepared with the following documents:
1. School ID and Birth Certificate
OR
AZ ID or Driver License
2. Social Security Number.
The AZ ID/DL and Social Security Number are not required to apply, but highly recommended to accelerate admissions and verify in-state tuition rate.
For more information please contact Sandra Martinez, CGCC Advisor at sandra.martinez@cgc.edu or schedule an appointment here.
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Wildcat Counseling
Course Registration for 2021-2022 School Year
Students who have not yet completed their course registration for the 2021-2022 school year need to complete the following form (choose next year's grade level) to submit their course requests:
FULL-TIME ONLINE Global Academy students need to follow the instructions here to complete MHS course registration.
All course registration information and forms can be found on the MHS Counseling website here: https://www.gilbertschools.net/Page/2341.
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ASVAB Test
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Tri-University
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ASU College Tour on Amazon Prime
ASU will be featured in an episode of The College Tour on Amazon Prime.
This experience will allow students and their families to get an extraordinary in-depth overview of ASU and the student experience from our current students on demand. The episode will be live on March 4th.
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Now Open for the Class of 2022!
Scholarship Highlight of the Week - Gilbert Education Foundation Scholarships
The Gilbert Education Foundation is pleased to be able to offer scholarships to GPS graduating seniors. Scholarships are available for all GPAs, fields of study, types of schools, etc. Do not miss this opportunity to help fund your education! Click here for more information.
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Academic Support
Peer Tutoring
PEER TUTORING is available during both lunches on TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS (10:30-11:00 and 11:55-12:25) in the MHS Career Center. No appointment is needed; come on in!
Assignment Tracker
Click here for an Assignment Tracker to list your missing assignments/quizzes/tests and catch up in your classes (you will need to make a copy of the Assignment Tracker in order to enter your information, or you can print a copy).
Counselor Appointments
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Message from our Athletic Director
Fan Attendance
Starting on Monday, March 1st Gilbert Public Schools will increase fan attendance up to 25% of seating capacity at our athletic events. Spectators will still be required to wear masks throughout the event. Tickets for next week's events can be found at: https://gofan.co/app/school/AZ12790
Tryout Information
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PAWs-atively Awesome
2021 National Merit Finalists
Congratulations to Mesquite seniors Donovan Harp and Hongtao Lu as they have recently been named 2021 National Merit Finalists!
High school seniors from throughout the nation compete annually for approximately 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million. More than 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.
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2021 Flinn Scholarship Finalist
Congratulations to Mesquite senior Jennifer Tran on recently being named a 2021 Flinn Scholarship Finalist!
The Flinn Scholarship—valued at more than $120,000—covers tuition, fees, housing, and meals at one of Arizona’s public universities, plus study abroad. Each year, about 20 top high-school seniors are chosen to learn from amazing faculty, business leaders, and civic innovators and join a vibrant, eclectic community—including a powerful alumni network.
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PAWs-atively Awesome - January Students of the Month
Freshmen: Joshua Lucero
Sophomore: Kelly Manwaring
Junior: Alex Foote
#1: I'm recognizing this student because Alex is someone that doesn't often get praised for their handwork and dedication to school. Alex comes into class everyday, and pull out his completed work. He listens politely and intently to the lesson, and asks questions when he has them. He will then work quietly to complete the days tasks before going to his next class and doin the cycle again. Alex is courteous, caring, and a great student to have in class!
#2: Alex always works so hard. He is always on task, participates, and gets all of his work done. Alex has been an exceptional student all year long! Keep up the hard work Alex, you are doing great things! :)
Senior: Gabriela Atonal
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Health Office Hotspot
HEALTH OFFICE HOTSPOT - AH AH AH CHOO!
Allergies, flu, Covid ... they all seem to have the same symptoms and can be difficult to determine the difference. Below is a simple chart to help determine what your child may be experiencing. As you can see, there are many of the SAME symptoms. If your child has seasonal allergies, please make sure he/she is taking their medication like they need to so symptoms are reduced. If the symptoms do not improve, or there are new symptoms that arise, we ask that you keep your student home from school and seek the proper treatment and follow up with your medical provider. As always, we want ALL of our students to be in class and on campus. You can help achieve this goal by keeping your student home when not feeling well. If you have any questions, we are here to help.
A healthy WILDCAT is a happy WILDCAT! GO CATS GO!!!!
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WILDCAT WELLNESS
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Fusion Academy Scottsdale
Invites You to Attend Our
Virtual Community Education Night
We’re bringing the community together for an evening of learning on the important topic of "The Emotional World of Teens."
Michael Klinkner, LCSW and Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick, LPC discuss the various aspects of the emotional world of teens. They explore the impact of brain development on a teen’s emotional functioning, as well as the influence of hormonal changes during this time. Michael and Elizabeth also discuss tangible ways that parents can effectively support a teen’s social-emotional health and well-being. They provide 6 essential take-aways that parents can start implementing immediately in order to support your teen’s emotional world.
Join Us
Tuesday, March 2nd
6:00 - 7:00 pm
via Zoom
RSVP Required
Click here to let us know you'll be joining us.
We look forward to learning with you!
About Our Speakers
Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Arizona and is trained in various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She has a doctoral degree in Psychology, as well as a master’s degree in Professional Counseling. Dr. Fedrick specializes in working with depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, attachment, grief and loss, life transitions, and personal improvement (including motivation & self-esteem).
Michael Klinkner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He completed his Master of Social Work Degree at West Virginia University after completing his Bachelor’s degree at Washington and Jefferson College. Michael provides individual, group, and family therapy to children (5+), adolescents, and adults. He specializes in treating a variety of issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD. Michael has been dedicated to helping people find balance and improve well-being for over 20 years.
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MHS BOOK NOOK
Congratulations to all our SENIORS for passing the CIVICS test! We're so proud of all of you!
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CIVICS TEST - ARIZONA REQUIREMENT
If there are any undergraduates who would like to scratch this off their list of things to do before they graduate, please come to see Ms. K in the library. I'm happy to schedule you for the test before school, at your lunch or if you have a release time.
This is a link to the CIVICS practice test. If you hover and click over the text, it should give you a link. If you go through the practice a few times, you are pretty much guaranteed to pass the test. Make sure you know who the president and Vice President are as well as the senators and representatives from Arizona. Those questions will be on the test.
If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Have a great day!
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Chromebooks & Textbooks
PLEASE run the CB update announcement again.
I know that there is an update that not everyone has done.
It's time to clean out your closets and under your beds! Please bring in last year's textbooks as well as any missing library books. We would be happy to return the library books to the junior high if you find those as well! THANKS!
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SAFETY AND SECURITY
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About MHS
Email: mhsinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: https://www.gilbertschools.net/mesquitehigh
Location: 500 South McQueen Gilbert, AZ 85233
Phone: 480-632-4750
Twitter: @MHSWildcat_News