CMHS Times
Canon-McMillan High School - April 2022 Newsletter
What's Happening at CMHS?
Canon Mac students wrapped up March with a variety of events, new endeavors, and awards. The 4th nine weeks is underway, but we still have many exciting events going on before the end of the year!
German Club Wins Big!
Mrs. Christina Hartmann, CMHS German teacher and German Club Sponsor, and about 25 students in German I, II, III and German IV Honors participated in the 22nd Annual Three Rivers German Day Competition at Washington and Jefferson College on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
This event hosts around 400 students yearly from many middle and high schools in Western PA & West Virginia who come to W&J's campus to compete in linguistic, artistic, and performance based competitions. Local students demonstrate their ability to speak the language, understand the culture, and have fun with a language spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and all over the world as a language of business. Companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland employ many people in Western PA; school programs in German help keep the connections alive. Students win certificates and prizes for placing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
CM students won 6 prizes this year! Sarah Kolenda, Victoria Manda, Katie Brewster, Madison Walloch, Tessa Dalbo, and Reese Furbee all placed in a variety of categories. Congratulations!
Check out their winning pieces below!
1st Prize
2nd Prize
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
3rd Prize
1st Prize
Robotics Competitions
Each year students in Tom Nickovich’s Robotics 2 classes take on a year long project to participate in competitions coordinated by BotsIQ. BotsIQ is a program of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Foundation. Their mission is to provide hand-on learning opportunities and experiences, introducing students to manufacturing careers. Students not only learn about manufacturing careers, but also about engineering areas, such as robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. They also further develop skills in teamwork, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and creativity. All of this is achieved through developing a 15 pound battlebot.
Oftentimes students have seen or heard of a company, but have no idea what they specialize in. With the help of BotsIQ and Mr. Nickovich students are provided an opportunity to network and collaborate with local businesses. Their primary sponsor is Perryman Company in Houston, PA. They have provided students with tours, design help, welding, and CNC machining parts. Recently, they have also gained help from Accutrex Products located in South Pointe. They were able to provide their laser service to cut some intricate parts from aluminum plate. We have also worked with many other local businesses throughout the years as well. Some of these businesses provide a service to the teams, but they have also had local businesses provide monetary support.
This year students decided they wanted unique designs that are different from what is commonly seen at competitions. The period 1 Robotics 2 class created a bot with a front spinning lawn mower blade that they named "Thunder Struck" and the period 9 class created a bot with an overhead spinning lawn mower blade called "Death Roomba." Students worked together to research, design in 3D CADD, create scale mockup models, and fabricate as many parts as possible in house. Currently the teams are in the revision stage making improvements to their bots including assembling custom made battery packs for the upcoming competition in April. They saw the need for this improvement after competing in the BotsIQ Preliminary competition earlier this month where they finished 11th and 17th mainly due to the amount of battery power the weapons were consuming.
Students will be competing again April 29th and 30th at California University in the BotsIQ Finals. This competition will be double eliminations with over 80 high school level teams from 15 counties.
Have you heard students talking about Canon-McMillan's upcoming Esports team? One day in the future, our goal is for students to play video games competitively with other local school districts!
Multiple studies show that participating in Esports, or competitive video gaming, has significant benefits to a student's cognitive abilities, including increased memory, problem solving and critical thinking. Also, being part of an Esports club or team builds leadership, communication skills and confidence. And those students who play video games are more likely to pursue jobs in STEM fields, improving our workforce in critical areas of need.
Esports is essentially competitive video gaming where students play against each other online and in-person either through tournaments or season-long league play. Prizes can be as large as college scholarships and can translate to collegiate game playing. It's also a great opportunity to unite various circles of students, giving them opportunities to interact with others they may not see throughout the day.
We are still in the design process of the team; our first step is founding the Esports Club. Students are encouraged to express interest now and become part of the creative process! Any students interested in joining the Esports Club should be on the lookout for our next meeting!
Please see pictures below of our very first Esports club meeting in March. We had nearly 100 students show up to express interest! We took polls to determine which video games are the most popular and hosted scrimmages amongst our students after school in the cafeteria.
Pi Day
Band Updates
The following students represented Canon-McMillan in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Region Band on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Mt. Lebanon High School:
Pictured below: Eric Francis, Agustus Cicconi, Aaron Fulton, Anna Prezioso, Emily Sinclair, Florence Bergeron, Noah Palivoda
Career Speaker Series
This past month we hosted Rich Natili, Facilities Engineering Manager, from Range Resources.
Our students also had an opportunity to tour the CM Middle School construction site, which has been an ongoing series since they broke ground. See some images below of the progress being made at the new middle school!
The Future Medical Professionals Club Host Career Speaker
Canonsburg Junior Council Person Program
Ethan Bukovinsky, Madeline Orr, Matthew Thomas, and Allie West were officially sworn in as Junior Council Persons this past month! Councilman Chandler told the school that it was an exciting evening, and that the students are doing great in the program thus far.
We continue to look forward to their participation in this program and positive contributions to the community stemming from their involvement!
Zoo in the Classroom
We enjoy sharing our classroom animals across the curriculum with the elementary, intermediate, and middle school students and look forward to running more Zoo in the Classroom programs this spring!
Dates to Remember in April
April 1: Reports Cards Available Online
April 14-18: No School
Steel Band to Perform at PMEA State Conference
CONGRATULATIONS and GOOD LUCK to all of the wonderful students involved in making this a most memorable time!
CMSD Art Show
Our 22nd Annual District Art Show is coming up on Monday, April 25th from 5:30-8:30pm at Canon-McMillan High School. It includes artwork from all buildings in the District and features a senior show. There will also be live music, performed by high school students, and refreshments.
We hope to see you there!
Advanced Placement Examinations
Spring Keystone Testing
Literature - May 16 and 18
Algebra - May 19 and 20
Biology - May 23 and 24
Keystones are a graduation requirement. Please refer to page 4 of the course catalog, which is linked below, to review the Act 158: Alternate Pathways to Graduation should your child not score "Proficient" on the exams.
Tutoring
Canon-McMillan High School’s Peer Tutoring Program
Learn from your peers, broaden your content knowledge, & improve your test scores/grade.
Research shows that peer tutoring…
- Encourages a higher level of thinking
- Increases subject-specific knowledge
- Promotes self-motivated learning
- Enhances academic success
- Improves communication skills
- Improves participants’ test scores & grades
- Fosters learning from & relating to one’s peers
If you answered “YES” & would like to be paired with a peer tutor, please click this link https://forms.gle/yCmckH6e7JN8xdeb6 to complete the Google Peer Tutor Request Form. Upon receipt, you will receive communication within 1-2 school days, so please check your SCHOOL GMAIL ACCOUNT for follow up information!
Questions?
Email Mrs. Humbertson at humbertsons@cmsd.k12.pa.us
Steps to Take to Report Social Media Abuse
- Do not respond.
- Save the evidence.
- Report it to the app company directly.
- Contact your local police department if it involves a threat or ongoing harassment.
- Inform the school.
Karen Rubican
Karen Rubican, School Counselor, represented Pennsylvania School Counselors in a recent Action Lab that focused on statewide strategies for increasing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion to expand access to postsecondary education. The Action Lab was coordinated by the National Governors Association, in partnership with Education Strategy Group and supported by Siemens Foundation. The first day was spent learning about work taking place in other states and learning about the impacts that Covid has had on FAFSA completion nationally. The second day was spent as a state team exploring challenges and opportunities in Pennsylvania while having access to subject-matter experts. The state team is continuing to work on initiatives to assist in FAFSA completion before May 1, 2022, as well as exploring long term changes to positively impact the FAFSAfuture students planning on postsecondary education.
For Canon-McMillan High School, in addition to supporting a roster of students, she oversees Xello, coordinates postsecondary education activities, scholarships, National Merit, awards and opportunities, the monthly Counseling Department Newsletter, coordinates financial aid activities including a financial aid night, FAFSA completion sessions, and student-specific assistance as requested. She is the National Honor Society Advisor. She is the Secondary School Counselor Committee chairman for the Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors and serves on the sponsors/exhibits committee for the Pennsylvania School Counselor Association. Mrs. Rubican was recognized in 2018 as Pennsylvania’s Secondary School Counselor of the Year and was a finalist for the Women in School Leader award by the The School Superintendents Association.
Counseling Department
School Counseling Resources Group
Every high school student is encouraged to join the School Counseling Resources group in Schoology! Resources including academic development, career development, employment, community service opportunities, scholarships and more can be found there! Students can join the group by using the following access code: DB7QW-K4WWP
Athletics
CMHS School Nurse Information
Immunizations for Upcoming Seniors
COVD-19 Guidance
Student Affairs Information
Marijke Lucia, Secretary of Student Affairs
724-745-1400 ext. 5009
Fax - 724-745-4490
Attendance and Early Dismissal Procedures
Attendance:
If a student is not seated in their first period classroom by 7:45, they will be considered absent (shown as IUn in PowerSchool.) Prior to the end of 2nd period, an attendance rollover will take place and those students still marked as absent will be marked absent for all 9 class periods. That evening you will receive both a phone call and an email from our BlackBoard messaging system alerting you of your child’s absence. Please send them in with an excuse within three 3 days of their last absence. You can either provide us with a parent note, an email or you can fill out an absence excuse found here: https://www.formality.io/v/uJ2tm9C. Parent notes can be placed in absence excuse bin in Student Affairs Office. Each student is allocated 15 absences before a doctor’s excuse is required.
If your child is going to be entering the building late, they must first go through the Student Affairs Office to receive a late pass. Please provide your student with an excuse. Acceptable forms are a parent note, doctor's excuse, email or an online form submission found here: https://www.formality.io/v/AW8mOPbmC. If they enter with an excuse, their absence will be changed to an excused tardy (TEx.) If they do not have an excuse, they will be entered as tardy unexcused (TUn.) If your child is marked as tardy unexcused, that evening you will receive both a phone call and email from our BlackBoard messaging system alerting you of their tardy. Each student is allocated 4 tardies per semester (parent note or online submission) before a doctor's excuse is required. Disciplinary action will be taken for excessive tardies.
Early Dismissals:
If your student will need to leave the building prior to the end of the school day (2:40pm), you must provide them with an early dismissal note. This can be a parent note, email or online submission found here: https://www.formality.io/v/i1GhkeV. All early dismissals require BOTH written and verbal confirmation. Please call Mrs. Lucia in the Office of Student Affairs (724-745-1400, ext. 5009), BY 9:00am to confirm you child’s early dismissal. Once both forms are received, a pass will be sent to your child and they may leave at the time of their dismissal. If you are picking your student up, they will meet you outside, if they are a driver, they are free to leave and drive themselves. If you choose, you can come into the main office to sign your student out. No student will be permitted to leave until both forms of confirmation are received. All early dismissals will be entered as ER in PowerSchool. If your child has medical documentation for their early release, please provide us with this information and we will change their ER to a medical early release (MER.) Medical early releases are not counted in attendance reports. Students who leave the building without an early dismissal pass will be marked IUn and considered absent from class and disciplinary action can be taken.
Mrs. Lucia can be reached by email at luciam@cmsd.k12.pa.us and by phone at 724-745-1400, ext. 5009.
Inclement Weather Information
Please click here for information regarding Flexible Instructional Days (FIDs) and Snow Days for the 2021-2022 school year.
CMHS Administration
Mr. Ken Crowley, Principal
Ms. Jenna Handra, Assistant Principal
Mr. Tom Orr, Assistant Principal
Ms. Brittany Taylor, Assistant Principal