MCHS newsletter
October 3rd, 2023
Principal's message
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It is hard to believe we are already one month into the new school year, and have finished our first round of parent teacher interviews. Thank you to all those who were able to show up and discuss your son/daughter's progress. If you were unable to book a time with a particular teacher please feel free to send an email if you have concerns, and our teaching staff is more than happy to have a conversation with you.
This week our school had an opportunity to walk with our Indigenous community, through the journey of Truth and Reconciliation. Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Clayton and some of our students were invited to participate in Orange Shirt Day at Alexander First Nation Reserve. It was an amazing experience to march with the community of Alexander and listen to powerful stories from residential school survivors. We are very proud of our Indigenous students who took part in the ceremonies including traditional dances that were a pleasure to watch. On behalf of the entire Morinville Community High School community I would like to extend gratitude to Chief Arcand and all those involved in the ceremony for allowing us to participate as we continue to build our relationship of acceptance, reconciliation and growth.
It has been an exceptional start to the year, with grad activities getting into full swing, sports teams actively representing our school in the communities, as well as our first HOWLS lunch being served to over 150 students for going above and beyond in being true ambassadors for our school. Thank you to the Morinville Fire Department for coming out and helping to serve lunch to our students.
Everyone have a great week
Damon Clayton
Counseling Corner
We'd like to take the time to mention that we offer a range of counselling services at MCHS. Whether it be for academic or personal reasons, students can get help. See the contact information below for details.
COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Learning support facilitator: Susanne Christensen
Counsellor: Courtney MacDonald
Addictions counsellor: Lucy Oster
GSACRD Voice (Wellness coach): Marina Casavant
GSACRD Voice
October 1st - 7th is Mental Illness Awareness Week! In Canada, 1 in 5 people experience mental illness (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, 2019), and only a third of those people will seek treatment for their illness (Statistics Canada, 2020), partially due to stigma and misunderstanding. This week is a time to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. Keep an eye out for the GSACRD Voice display in your school to learn more, or visit the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health for more information and resources, or check out the graphic below to learn some myth-busting facts about mental illness.
Creative Writing Club
If you're interested in creative writing, join Marina in the library! All grade levels are welcome! You can see Marina, or email her at mcasavant@gsacrd.ab.ca for more information.
Orange Shirt Day
Students acknowledged Orange Shirt Day by sharing in Bannock and Tea over the lunch hour and making beautiful displays to commemorate our First Nations, Métis and Inuit brothers and sisters. Tuesday, we will be hosting Cory Arcand, a Knowledge Keeper, to further educate us in our efforts to support Truth and Reconciliation.
All things Art
Senior High Art Field Trip to The Alberta Gallery of Art on Thursday, Oct. 5th to see the Warhol to Banksy exhibit. The cost is $15 and permission forms are due back no later than Oct. 4th. Contact Mrs. Ricioppo for more information. There are only 30 spots available tricioppo@gsacrd.ab.ca
AP Art and Design info session being hosted at lunch on Wednesday Oct. 4th in the Art Room. This will be offered to any Art 30 students in either semester. Special note for 2nd semester Art Students, students need to let Mrs. Ricioppo know their intention for this program before Fall Break. In AP Art they'll create a portfolio of college-level work and submit it for evaluation (instead of taking a year-end paper-and-pencil AP Exam). A qualifying portfolio score can earn students college credit, advanced placement, or both.
Sponsors for Awards Night
AWARDS SPONSORSHIP REQUEST
It is once again that time of year when we are planning our Awards Ceremony at Morinville Community High School. This year’s event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 16th, 2023 at the Morinville Community Cultural Center.
We would not be able to host this event without our many sponsors/families from the community. Because of this, we have been able to present our students with over $20,000.00 in monetary awards every year. We understand that our sponsor's needs may change over time, which is why we are reaching out to our school community to grow our list of sponsors for this event. We truly appreciate any amount of donation- big or small.
If you, or someone you know is able to support our Awards Program please contact Mrs.Rogers at nrogers@gsacrd.ab.ca
Thank you in advance for making our awards night a great success for our students.
2022-23 Yearbook
If you ordered last years yearbook it is now available for pick up. Students should make their way to room 105 to pick them up.
Athletics
Success!
Congratulations to the JV boys volleyball team. After a rough start on Friday the team rebounded Saturday. Their play improved significantly over the course of the day and won an exciting semi final against Hilltop from Whitecourt in 3 sets. We then came up a little short against Barrhead in the final but gave them a much tougher match then we did in round robin.
Well done boys!
Cross Country - Grade 9
Congratulations to the Grade 9 athletes who competed at the SAPEC District Cross Country Running Meet.
Everyone ran a good race, special congratulations to Daileas who placed 15th overall. There were approximately 70 students in the race.
Grade 9 Cross Country Running team:
Daileas Cuming, Ryan Cox, Spencer MacKeen, Callie Edwards, Kamea Chauvet, Avery Adams
Upcoming sporting events
October 6, 7
MCHS alumni volleyball tournament
Beautiful bits of the bible
Psalm 31:1–2, NIV
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
The Doug - Saint or Sinner - Who Gets To Heaven First?
Gospel Reading - October 1, 2023
Rabbi, priest, saint. These seem the likely choice to get to heaven. At least you'd think they'd get to heaven before people like murderers, thieves and liars. But in today's parable, it's not what you SAY you're going to do but what you ACTUALLY do that makes the difference.
Easy ways to keep up with student attendance
Upcoming Events:
October 2
Recognition of Truth and Reconciliation - no school
October 3
Cory Arcand visits MCHS
Outdoor Education 9 - parent meeting 5 pm
October 5
Thanksgiving celebration - Parents/guardians and grandparents are welcome
World Teacher's Day
October 6, 7
MCHS alumni volleyball tournament
ADDRESS:
Morinville Community High School
9506 - 100 ave Morinville, AB, Canada
T8R1P6
(757) 259-3600
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mchs.wolves/
WEBSITE: https://www.mchs.gsacrd.ab.ca/
INSTAGRAM: mchs.gsacrd