MCHS Newsletter
October, 2023
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parents can have a significant positive role with the school by regularly communicating with their child’s teachers. One of the best ways to facilitate this communication is by attending Parent/Teacher Conferences. Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 26th from 1:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and will be conducted in-person at the high school. MCHS utilizes a walk-in format for the convenience of our parents/guardians during conferences. Each conference should generally last 10 minutes and students are encouraged to attend conferences with their parent/guardian. Please note that a dinner break will be provided for MCHS staff on Thursday evening from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Staff with the last name beginning with A-M will take a ½ hour dinner break from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. and staff with the last name beginning with N-Z will take a ½ hour dinner break from 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Should any parent or guardian require special accommodations at conferences (Spanish translation, deaf or hard of hearing translation, etc.) please contact Mrs. Dawn Seemann at seemannd@mchs154.org or 815-568-6511 x1302 or Miss Jenesis Hernandez at hernandezj@mchs154.org or 815-58-6511 x1311 by no later than Tuesday, October 17th to ensure the availability of required special services. We look forward to meeting with you!
FIT FOR LIFE PRACTICES YOGA
FOODS II STUDENTS BAKE HOLIDAY-THEMED CAKES
SCHOOL PICTURES
Picture retake day is 10/13/23, upper gym, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Any student who did not have their picture taken in August, or any student who needs retakes, should report to the upper gym during their lunch or advisory period.
How to order school photos/portraits from VIP
School photos/portraits from your recent picture day will be uploaded to an online gallery for parents to view and order around October 24, 2023. 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 it is automatically selected for you. Parents have until Monday November 20th to pick a photo of their student for the yearbook. After that, VIP will pick the photo for the yearbook. Please contact VIP with any questions at support@vipis.com.
ACTIVITY NEWS
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
National Honor Society is an organization that recognizes outstanding high school students. All juniors and seniors who have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5/4.0 (B+) or above may apply for admission to the Marengo Community High School Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). NHS recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Servant leadership is about helping others while developing leadership skills through planning and performing acts of service for others. During the year students are required to complete 15 service hours of their choice, such as performance activities (arts), athletics, clubs, scholastic teams, and community service, with one being an NHS sponsored event.
The Marengo Community High School Chapter of the National Honor Society will induct its new members on the evening of Thursday, October 19th. We look forward to welcoming our new members this year!
FFA NEWS written by Carter Campbell
This month, our FFA Chapter participated in many activities including Tractor Day, Dairy Judging Contest, and Farm Progress Show.
Tractor day is when anyone in the High School can drive their tractor to school for the day. Some students take half the day off to help teach and explain how to share the roadway with farm equipment on the road.
The Dairy Judging Team went to Heinsohn Dairy Farm to compete against 14 schools. Marengo placed 5th out of the 14 teams. Ella Logue placed 2nd overall.
Sixteen FFA members attended the 2023 Farm Progress Show and toured around the latest technology of machinery.
HOSA BLOOD DRIVE
Please consider giving the gift of LIFE by donating at HOSA's blood drive. The blood drive is Open to the PUBLIC.
When: Wednesday, October 4th (2:00 pm-6:30 pm)
Where: MCHS Commons Area
How: Sign up for a donation time using the following link https://donate.illinois.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/5605770
HOMECOMING WEEK!
Although we had a rainy Homecoming week, our spirits were not dampened! Dress up days were a hit, with many students and staff participating. On Tuesday we had a pizza food truck and on Wednesday students were able to dunk their teachers in the dunk tank. The Powder Puff games were postponed until Thursday with the remainder of the Spirit Games being held at Friday’s pep assembly. The weather had cleared by the time students assembled for the parade on Friday afternoon, and on Friday evening, the varsity football team defeated their rival Harvard by a score of 40-20. The week ended with our Homecoming Dance on Saturday night. A huge thank you to all our class sponsors and to the Student Council Sponsors Mrs. Behn and Mrs. Olson.
FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Meningococcal Vaccine Required
The Meningococcal vaccine is required for students entering 12th grade. The Illinois Department of Public Health is requiring that all students entering 12th grade show proof of two doses of meningococcal vaccine unless the first dose was administered after 16 years of age. In this case, only one dose is required.
October 15th, 2023 is the deadline for Freshmen and Seniors to have met vaccine requirements. Contact your healthcare provider and make your appointment today. #VaxToSchool
STUDENT SERVICES NEWS
ILLINOIS GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
Public Act 101-0180 requires that, beginning with the 2020-21 school year, the parent or guardian of each student must (1) file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an application for state financial aid, or (2) file a waiver form with the school district indicating that the parent or guardian understands what FAFSA and application for state financial aid are and has chosen not to file an application. These same requirements also apply to any student who is at least 18 years old or legally emancipated. They are a prerequisite for a student receiving a diploma from a public high school and are in addition to any other graduation requirements. If choosing to file a waiver of this requirement, students and families must file the following form with the school district: Waiver Form
Class of 2024: Complete the FAFSA OR fill out the Exemption Form.
Apply for a FSA ID (one for the student, one for the parent) at FSA ID link.
Seven things you need before filling out the FAFSA form:
The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.
The law will also affect every state that uses FAFSA data to award state grant aid and every school that participates in the federal student aid programs. Major changes required by the law include the following:
1. Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) With the Student Aid Index (SAI)
Starting with the 2024–25 award year, students and families will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college, and they’ll experience a change in the methodology used to determine aid. The new need analysis formula removes the number of family members in college from the calculation, allows a minimum SAI of -1500, and implements separate eligibility determination criteria for Federal Pell Grants.
2. Modifications to Family Definitions in FAFSA® Formulas
Expect changes in how a student’s family size is determined aligning more with what was reported on the student/parents tax returns.
3. Expanding Access to Federal Pell Grants
· The FAFSA Simplification Act will expand the Federal Pell Grant to more students and will link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level (starting with the 2024–25 award year).
· Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities will regain the ability to receive a Federal Pell Grant (starting with the 2023–24 award year).
· Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility will be restored to students whose school closed while they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student (starting with the 2023–24 award year).
4. Streamlining the FAFSA® Form
Where possible, the law mandates that we use data received directly from the IRS to calculate Federal Pell Grant eligibility and the SAI. This data exchange has been made possible by the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (FUTURE Act), which we’ll implement alongside FAFSA simplification starting with the 2024–25 award year. The FAFSA Simplification Act also removes questions about Selective Service registration and drug convictions. It also adds questions about applicants’ sex, race, and ethnicity, which have no effect on federal student aid eligibility (starting with the 2023–24 award year).
PSAT 8/9 Testing for Freshmen
Freshmen will be taking the PSAT 8/9 on October 11th.
PSAT/NMSQT TESTING FOR SOPHOMORE and JUNIORS
Junior students will be taking the SAT this year as a part of the state of Illinois assessment program. In order to provide students opportunities to familiarize themselves with the test, MCHS has scheduled practice tests for Sophomores and Juniors. On October 11th, Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT. This is a national test and may qualify students for scholarships. The results will be online through the students' College Board account.
College Visits at MCHS
Each year college representatives come to our high school to talk with junior and senior students about admission requirements, majors offered, scholarships, and campus life. Please visit our “guidance calendar” by clicking here to see what colleges are scheduled.
Class of 2027
Counselors will be meeting with all freshmen students individually to discuss the transition to high school. Meetings will begin in October.
Manufacturing Tours
Students can participate in tours of manufacturing facilities throughout the area during October. This is a great opportunity to learn about employment opportunities post-graduation. To see the complete list of participating companies and register visit bit.ly/MPCtours2023.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Hello from the Athletic Department!
We have had an exciting September in our athletic department. All nine fall sports are moving at full speed. We want to congratulate our girls golf team on their 2023-24 SY KRC Championship. They swept the competition throughout the regular season and won the KRC tournament. This is back-to-back years this program has accomplished this prestigious accolade.
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. We will be opening winter sports very soon and you can visit this website to register.
Here are some upcoming dates of important information:
October 2nd: Volleyball Senior Night
October 3rd: Girls Tennis Senior Night
October 12th: Winter Sports Parent, Coach, Player meeting (7:00 p.m. in Auditorium)
October 13th, 14th & 17th: Marengo Boys Soccer Regional
October 16th: Volley for the Cure
October 23rd: Boys Bowling begins
October 24th: Winter Cheer Tryouts
October 30th: Girls Basketball begins
November 6th: Boys Basketball and Wrestling begins
November 10th: Meet the Teams Night for Winter Sports
November 13th: Girls Bowling begins
Parents… We are looking for parents to join the booster club. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the MCHS commons. Their next meeting is on October 10th. 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.
We want to thank our grounds crew of Wayne Frohling, Don Swanson, and Adam Swanson for working so diligently on our athletic fields. Our football field has looked really amazing with the painting in the end zones. Also, it has been fun having light shows with our new lights that were installed this past August.
Thank you to all that helped support our FNBO Challenge with Harvard and thank you to our sponsors.
FNBO Challenge Sponsors
A & P Grain Systems, Inc
Air Management Services Heating Cooling & Plumbing
Armanetti Wine and Spirits - Marengo
Arrowhead Industrial Park
Beth & Rudnicki Insurance Agency, Inc
Bopps Bar & Grill
Carr's Air Maintenance
Carlos Gonzalez, Compass Real Estate
CORA Physical Therapy
D5 Ranges Marengo
Erect A Tube
FNBO
Evolve Insurance Solutions
First Place Promotions and Awards
Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley PC
Hyperstitch
Marengo Signs
Mercyhealth
MGHS Home Improvement LLC
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas
Niko's Pointers Saloon
Northwest Herald
RE/MAX Connections II
Sam's Tavern
State Representative Joe Sosnowski - 69th District
Sullivans Foods - Marengo
Walmart - Harvard
WHIW 101.3FM Harvard Community Radio
WXMR 94.3FM Marengo Community Radio
Our athletic director, Dwain Nance, can be reached at (815) 568 - 6511 ext. 1612 or nanced@mchs154.org.
GIRLS GOLF: BACK-TO-BACK KRC CHAMPS AND REGIONAL CHAMPS!
The Girls Golf Team made MCHS history by winning their first Regional Championship at Blackstone Golf Course with Emma Leucht winning the silver medal. Congratulations to:
Emma Leucht (Sr) - 91
Maggie Hanson (Fr) - 99
Gabby Gieseke (Jr) - 101
Cadence Leucht (Sr) - 111
Charlotte Machac (Fr) - 114
Kiley Brady (Fr) - 120
This is Chad Olson’s first Regional Championship as a coach. We are super proud of this group.
VOLLEY FOR THE CURE
The 13th annual Volley For The Cure game and auction will be held Monday, October 16th at Marengo Community High School. We will be playing Richmond Burton. Doors will open at 4:30 pm with the freshman and JV games beginning at 5:00 pm followed by the Varsity game. There will be raffle ticket items from area businesses as well as silent auction items including White Sox tickets, Lululemon GC/belt bag, Ice Hog Hockey ticket package, a suite package from the Schaumburg Boomers, and many more! Raffle tickets will be available for sale the night of the event as well as VFTC t-shirts. T-shirts will be $20.00. The auction will begin after the end of the Varsity match in the commons.
If you wish to make a personal donation or get together with a group of friends or co-workers to donate an item and/or basket, please contact the high school at 815-568-6511 or send your donation to the Main Office attention Becky Chayer by Wednesday, October 11. Thank you in advance for your support in this important event. Your participation will help to make this evening a success. All proceeds from shirt sales, raffle ticket sales, and silent auction will benefit local families. We are trying to increase our money raised from last year at close to $7,000.00. Hope to see everyone there!