MCAS Communicator
an e-newsletter for the staff of Michigan City Area Schools
OCTOBER 2022
It's Homecoming Week!
The Wolves football team will take on the La Porte Slicers at 7:00 pm. Come out to enjoy the rivalry, and witness the 2022 Homecoming Queen crowned during halftime.
Remember, MCAS staff can attend for free! GO WOLVES!
Time for Your Flu Shot (and COVID booster)!
REMINDER! Walgreens will be at MCHS on Tuesday, October 11 from 2-4pm in the nurse's office -- they will be giving flu shots and COVID boosters. All MCAS employees (and family members) are welcome.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO & TO SIGN UP
Please sign up by Thursday, October 6th. Note: Parking for this is in the "horseshoe area" - enter through Door M. Questions? Contact Brandi Morlan - bmorlan01@mcas.k12.in.us
New Mileage Log Sheet
Please Welcome New Sodexo General Manager Randy Centers
Randy is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is happy to be back in this region. He has five children, and has also worked as a film actor, was a singer in an Irish band, and still works as a voice actor. "I'm happy to be here and I'm looking forward to making a positive contribution to everything going on here in Michigan City," he said.
His email address is michael.centers@sodexo.com.
Welcome, Randy!
Peace, Love & School Lunch
Help MCAS Thank Veterans!
After a two-year break... there will once again be a Veterans Day Parade in Michigan City. This will be a short parade on Franklin Street (9th street to 4th Street) at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 5. MCAS will have a school bus in the parade, which we would like to cover in student artwork with a "THANK YOU VETERANS" message. If you have a class or group that would like to contribute individual artwork or a thank-you banner, please send it to Betsy Kohn at the Ad Building by Friday, October 28. (All artwork will be given to area Veterans' groups following the parade.)
Plus: Schools/staff/students are invited to march along by the bus! (If you have a banner from
your school to carry, that would be excellent.)
If you know of another organization that might be interested in participating in the parade,
have them reach out to the Jim Fisher of the Michigan City Exchange Club at (219) 873-7900 or jlfisher4@comcast.net by October 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Last Chance for Booster Club Raffle Tickets!!
Saturday, October 8 is the last to purchase a ticket for the 3rd Annual MC Raffle, hosted by the MCHS Athletic Booster Club. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for our Athletic Department and is one of the best ways to continue to meet the needs of our student athletes and athletic programs. This event raised more than $20,000 last year!
Tickets for the raffle are $20 each, and the grand prize is $1,000! Only 1,000 tickets will be sold, and the prizes for 2nd to 10th place range from $100 to $500.
The drawing will be held on October 14 on Facebook Live. Tickets are available now in the MCHS Athletic Office. This is the #1 way to support Athletics at MCHS, and also possibly win some easy money!
Bullying Bystanders Unite Week
Bullying Bystanders Unite is a program developed to teach students how to safely come to the aid of someone being bullied. BBU is part of a nationwide effort created by the bullying, substance abuse, racism, and suicide prevention non-profit organization, Hey U.G.L.Y. (Unique Gifted Lovable You).
The safety rules and pledge can be found at BullyingBystandersUnite.org, which also features Hey UGLY’s ISeeBullying App to help bystanders know what to do in real time.
MCAS Employee United Way Campaign - Coming Soon!
Check out this video highlighting the launch of CREW in MCAS!
CPR Training Resources for Teachers/Certified Staff
Need CPR Certification? Here are two options to consider!
OPTION 1: Val Skwiat, Trainer/Safety Manager, MCAS Transportation Department has provided the following information:
- Go to elearning.heart.org and complete your $15 course.
- Send Val an email or call/text to schedule the "hands-on" portion.
- You will meet Val at your school or If you live nearby, she can come to your house.
- She will need a copy of your course completion certificate.
- She will send your CPR AED card; the cost is $15.
- vskwiat@mcas.k12.in.us - Cell: (219) 874-1716
OPTION 2: David Sanders, EMT Instructor at AK Smith, has provided this info about his company, Crash Course CPR:
- Go to IneedaCPRcard.com for information
- A simple CPR Card refresher class is $30. This is an all-inclusive class including an online quiz and skills test out.
- Takes approximately 1 hour to complete (also available through Zoom)
- Appointments available - Monday through Friday 10:00 am - Noon, plus after school and evening hours.
- Bring your friends: We have enough CPR equipment to provide individual or up to 40 students at a time.
- Payment can be made at the time of service or online at www.IneedaCPRcard.com
- Questions? Contact David Sanders (812) 821-0433
Food Drive: Save the Date
Food collected during this drive supports The Salvation Army of Michigan City food pantry, which is running very low on food right now, so we are hoping for a HUGE show of support from MCAS!
You can also help support The Salvation Army by signing up to ring a bell during the holidays at www.RegisterToRing.com.
October EAP Webinar: The Importance of Values and Goals & Sleep and Well-Being
Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
To Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6773856269344275467
Values are the basic, most fundamental beliefs a person can have. They help to determine what a person prioritizes, who they want to be, how they live their lives. Understanding more about values can help you identify what's most important to you to help set clearer goals.
Sleep is vital to an individual’s health but it is often not prioritized in the busy schedules of modern life. Learn how sleep impacts overall well-being and strategies to improve sleep.
Franciscan "Working Well" Newsletter
Franciscan publishes a monthly "Working Well" newsletter, and there are some great topics in the September 2022 edition.
- Healthy Aging
- The Importance of Story
- Eating Changes as We Age
- The Importance of Flexibility
Lunch and Lead Series
· October 11 with Angela Nelson Deuitch
· November 8 with Dr. Karen Bishop Morris
· December 6 with Adam O’Doherty
Lunch and Lead is a free virtual speaker series designed to help community and business leaders develop knowledge and skills while raising awareness of best practices from other leaders across Northwest Indiana and beyond. Sessions will take place virtually through Zoom. Each session will start at noon CST and run for 45 minutes. Registration for the Lunch and Lead speaker series is free and open to the public.
October Specials for MCAS Employees - Tickets At Work
Teachers and Staff: Do you know about "Tickets at Work"?
This is a perk provided to you as an employee of Michigan City Area Schools!
Simply visit www.TicketsAtWork.com and sign up using your MCAS email account and the company code MCAS. You will see several discount opportunities including shows, events, travel, movies, and more!
This month, TicketsatWork has everything you need to celebrate the start of the fall season. Find offers on the latest in fall fashion and accessories, exciting Halloween experiences, as well as personal wellness products and services in observance of World Mental Health Day on October 10th.
Check out the October Highlights Flyer for more details!