MCHS Newsletter
October, 2020
A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
On August 13, 2020, Marengo Community High School once again opened its doors to students for in-person learning after closing last March due to the governor’s executive order. Our doors remain open a month and a half later and the IHSA modified fall sports are well underway! I cannot express how proud I am of our faculty, staff, and administration for their hard work, creativity, and focus on our mission statement, “Where learning is valued and excellence is the standard,” as they diligently continue to serve the students of our community.
With the cold and flu season quickly approaching, I want you to be aware that there may be the occasion when a “pause” to our hybrid schedule may be deemed necessary, requiring us to pivot to full remote learning for a period of time. This may be due to a number of reasons including increased positivity within our community, an increase of common cold and flu symptoms, lack of staffing, a McHenry County Health Department directive, or due to another unforeseen reason. Please be assured that if a “pause” occurs, we will make every effort to return to our hybrid schedule as quickly as possible, keeping the health and safety of our students and staff as our top priority. Should a pause occur, we will notify our MCHS community through emails, voicemails, MCHS website postings, and Facebook postings.
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, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 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. Students who are ill but still able to participate in remote learning are highly encouraged to do so to ensure continuity in their education.
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. Please note: Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 22nd from 1:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Friday, October 23rd from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Please note on Thursday evening, all staff have a dinner break scheduled from 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm, and are unavailable to conference with parents/guardians at this time. MCHS will utilize a virtual format for our parents/guardians during conferences due to the restrictions and safety guidelines in place at this time. Conferences will be ten minutes in length and can be scheduled via the MCHS webpage. More information on how to sign up for conferences will be shared with parents shortly. Should any parent or guardian require special accommodations at conferences, or need to schedule a phone conference in lieu of a virtual meeting, please contact the teacher directly in advance to make these arrangements. We look forward to meeting with you virtually to support your student!
SCHOOL PICTURES
School portraits from your recent picture day have been 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
3. Click on “School portraits”
4. Enter your student’s information
You may now have the option to pick your yearbook/composite photo. Be sure to do so before it is automatically selected for you. Please contact VIP with any questions at support@vipis.com.
Picture retake days for in person students are as follows:
10/16/20, 10:30-12:30 - "B" cohort (last names L-Z)
10/19/20, 10:30-12:30 - Cohort "A" (last names A-K)
Wrestling Room (Balcony of Gym)
Picture retake day for Remote Students
10/21/20, 4pm-6pm
Wrestling Room (Balcony of Gym)
ATTENTION SOPHOMORES AND SENIORS!
Jostens informational packets regarding class rings (sophomores) and graduation attire (seniors) will be delivered the week of September 28th. Students may place their orders online at Jostens.com. Jostens will also be at school to accept orders during lunch periods on Tuesday, October 6th and Thursday, October 8th. Remote students that do not wish to order online may drop their orders off in student services during office hours (Monday-Friday from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm). Please bring orders to the office no later than Thursday, October 8th by 12:00 pm. If there are any questions, please call Jostens directly at 1-800-567-8367. Juniors and Seniors who have not ordered a class ring and would like to do so may stop in Student Services for a ring packet or may order online through Jostens.com.
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 a 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 15th. We look forward to welcoming our new members this year!
HOSA BLOOD DRIVE
Mark your calendars for the HOSA Blood Drive on Thursday, October 1, 2020 from
2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
GUIDANCE NEWS
New 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 have 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 https://www.isbe.net/Documents/FAFSA-Non-Participation-Form.pdf. If you have questions regarding this requirement, please email FAFSA@isbe.net.
FAFSA Application Avaliable October 1, 2020
Description: FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Need help filling out your FAFSA? Participants will go line by line through the FAFSA form. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by conducting a “need analysis” based on financial information, such as income, assets, and other household information. The form is submitted to and processed by a federal processor contracted by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The results are electronically transmitted to the financial aid offices of the schools listed on your application. FAFSA is the application used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs.
Class of 2021:
Complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov OR fill out the Nonparticipation Form.
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 2019 U.S. 1040 and W-2 forms
2. Parent’s 20189U.S. 1040 and W-2 forms
3. Student’s drivers license and social security card
4. Parent’s social security cards
5. Records of total untaxed income for 2019 (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
Records of net worth of investments for both parents and students
Note: Net Worth = Current Value minus Debt
MCC Financial Aid Fundamentals and how to complete the FAFSA- 34 minutes
Click HERE. This is the most comprehensive
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 14th, all Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT. This is a national test and may qualify students for scholarships. The results will be available online through the student’s College Board account.
Schedule a meeting with your students counselor or the social worker by clicking here. Counselors are available for virtual or face to face meetings with parents and students. No walk ins will be allowed at this time. Also, starting September 6th, counselors will begin senior meetings to go over graduation requirements, post-secondary plans and much more.
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. All meetings will be on virtual on Wednesdays. If you have a class but would like to attend, please email Mrs. Olson prior to the date for attendance.
Class of 2024
Counselors will be meeting with all freshmen students individually to discuss the transition to high school. Meetings will begin in later October.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Registration for winter sports will open October 15th at marengo.8to18.com
MARENGO HIGH SCHOOL SPECTATOR POLICY
Effective 9/24/20
As we continue to navigate our return to play, the Kishwaukee River Conference has decided to allow home fans at contests. At this time, Marengo High School will allow fans at home contests only under the following conditions:
· The contest must be a home match held at Marengo High School, Marengo Ridge Golf Course, or Indian Oaks.
· The spectators must be immediate family members (parent/guardian/brother/sister) of one of the athletes competing in the contest.
· All spectators must maintain a distance of 30 feet or more from any athletes or coaches of the contest.
· All spectators must maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from any other spectator that does not reside at the same address.
· Face coverings are suggested to reduce chances of transmission. They are required if social distancing is not possible.
· All social distancing requirements posted at the facility of the events must be adhered to at all times.
· This policy applies to Golf, Cross Country, and Girls Tennis only. All other activities, including fall contact days remain off-limits to spectators.
It is our hope that this is the first step into transitioning back to normal events. In the event that we see these guidelines are being violated, we may be forced to reinstitute our ban on spectators. We appreciate your cooperation as we work to continue to provide our students with a positive experience in these troubled times.
HOLE IN ONE!
Offensive lineman turned golfer-for-a-year Jack Schirmer shot a Hole-In-One on #10 at Chapel Hill in a match against Johnsburg on September . Congratulations!