CMHS Times
Canon-McMillan High School - February 2023 Newsletter
Throughout December CM students were busy! They participated in an array of activities, competitions, trips, and performances.
Be sure you check out our upcoming events and important dates to remember.
The winter months are approaching; we have attached information about Flexible Instructional Days and Snow Days.
CONGRATULATIONS, CANON-MCMILLAN WRESTLING, WPIAL CHAMPS!
Academic Competition
Canon Mac had a great season with the Southwestern Academic League. We finished in 3rd place within the western region out of six area school districts. This qualified us for the regional tournament at Thomas Jefferson High School on January 18, 2023.
Congratulations to Jorma Borish for being the top scorer on the varsity team this season. A congratulations to all other members of the varsity team as well for all of their work and dedication over the past few months. A special shoutout to our senior member, Aidan Husa, for his contributions to academic competition over the years.
Academic League
Canon Mac was well represented at the Junior Varsity regional tournament for the Southwestern Academic League on Wednesday, February 1st at Trinity High School. The JV team finished in 2nd place within the western region out of six area school districts.
Congratulations to Tommy Amato for being the top scorer on the varsity team this season. A congratulations to all other members of the JV team as well for all of their work and dedication over the past few months. Great work!
Art Class Guest Speaker
Graduates are working all over the country in many different industries: film, television, theater, haunted attractions, theme parks, traveling shows, mask making, toys, medical and dental prosthetics... the list goes on and on! Check out this link to view some of the graduates' stories.
Baking and Pastry Arts
During the first semeseter, students in Ms. Johovich’s Baking and Pastry Arts class competed in the first ever Big Mac Bake Off. This group project provides students the opportunity to create a unique 2-layer decorated cake. Students incorporated skills and techniques learned from the course, along with their own creativity, to create their designs. Once completed, cakes were photographed and posted for staff and students to judge on creativity, design and interpretation of the chosen theme. The winning groups, along with their cake designs, are listed below:
Period 5 Winning Cake
Period 5 Group
From L to R: Jordyn Lackey, Rylee Yoest, Kylie Kuhn
Bekah Smith; (Not pictured: Olivia Rolle)
Period 7 Winning Cake
Period 7 Group
From L to R: Tommy Greaves, Cole Ulam, J.T. Baxter, Maddy Few, Ryleigh Miller
Period 8 Winning Cake
Period 8 Group
Back row from L to R: Alain Ventura, Emma Bridge, Sarah Plank, Emma Gross;Center Front: Chase Lagoni
CM Store
This semester, the CM Store is piloting a new class, CM Store Partners. We are having a wonderful time collaborating with each other in this inclusive environment. Currently the students are working on activities to help with our Grand Reopening. We are preparing a bulletin board to inform students of our new location; we are creating and manufacturing new uniform t-shirts that will be worn when we work at the store; and we are creating our employee name badges.
Pictured below, from left to right: Gracie Codding, Melanie Lewis, Baylee Sears, Claire Cheurlin, Lukas Preaux, Jacob Hannen, Sara Suhayda, Bellamia Mucci, Tru Sabatucci, and Carrington Holmes.
Design and Innovate
Michael Hillenbrand and Patrick Bruenn made their Pokémon Chess Set during their Design and Innovation class. The students could work individually, or as part of a team to create a new spin on a game. They were the only team to make a chess set. They used Thingiverse to capture their 3D images, DigiLab 3D Slicer software, and our Dremel 3D Printer.
Pictured below: Michael (left) and Patrick's (right) chess set that they created using our 3D printer in the Design & Innovate class.
District Chorus
Photo 1: Whole Group
Back
- Armin Rejaie, Junior, Tenor 2
- Elliott Blackhurst, Senior, Bass 2
Middle
- Brenton Rahman, Sophomore, Bass 2
- Kade Street, Senior, Tenor 1
- Amelia Klinar, Senior, Soprano 2
- Ashley Mullens, Junior, Soprano 2
- Jai Gough, Junior, Alto 2
- Madelyn Barch, Junior, Soprano 2
Front
- Zoe Gray, Senior, Alto 2
- Laurel Williams, Senior, Alto 2
- Mrs. Boice Stecker
- Connor Zenger, Sophomore, Bass1
Photo 2: 5 Regions Qualifiers
Left to Right
Jai Gough, Junior, Alto 2
Ashley Mullens, Junior, Soprano 2
Amelia Klinar, Senior, Soprano 2
Kade Street, Senior, Tenor 1
Brenton Rahman, Sophomore, Bass 2
Human Anatomy
Students from my human anatomy class had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery at AGH on Monday, January 23. The observation program was created in 2008 by Dr. George Magovern, Jr., system chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery for Allegheny Health Network and the co-chair of AHN’s Cardiovascular Institute. The observation room provides a view directly below to the operating table. There’s also a screen on the wall which shows close-up views of the procedure. This view is obtained from a camera that’s strapped to the cardiovascular surgeon’s forehead.
During our visit, Dr. Pietro Bajona was performing a septal myectomy used to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on a 42 year old male patient. Students had a chance to observe the four hour surgery and ask questions of Dr. Bajona when it was complete. Students had a first hand look at how all health professional’s in the operating room, including nurse anesthetists, cardiovascular perfusionists, surgical technicians, surgical physician assistants, and operating room nurses work together during a medical procedure. This is a unique opportunity for high school students in Western PA to see first hand the critical work that healthcare professionals do on a daily basis.
Scholastic Art Competition has CMHS Winners
Canon-McMillan art students will be recognized for their art accomplishments at the upcoming Scholastic Art and Writing Competition of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The ceremony will be held March 19, 2023 at PennWest California.
Ella Neiderer, a senior, received a Gold Key and an American Vision Award, the highest level of achievement on the regional level, for her painting entitled “They Know It.” She also received an additional Gold Key for her painting entitled “Family Vacation.” Another senior, Grace Lackovic, received three Gold Keys! One for her portfolio of six distinct works in a series that investigated the idea of “Sensations.” Her other two Gold Keys were awarded for her drawings “Dancing Man,” and “Roar.” Additionally, a junior, Zoe Rose, received a Gold Key for a digital art piece entitled “Burnout.” Their Gold Key work will be forwarded to New York for national level adjudication. National Medalists will be announced on March 22, 2023.
Winners of a Silver Key for distinguished achievement on the regional level were:
Isabella Carola, senior, for her digital art, “Caught in a Blur.”
Isabella Carola, senior, for her drawing, “Burning Terror.”
Anna Chambers, sophomore, for her drawing, “Color Girl.”
Breana Crawford, junior, for her painting, “Helpless.”
Ella Neiderer, senior, for her digital art, “Amaya.”
Ella Neiderer, senior, for her painting, “Me vs. Myself.”
Mila Rose, junior, for her drawing, “Pixel.”
Madison Walloch, junior, for her drawing, “Head in the Clouds.”
Ava Yeager, senior, for her painting, “Fetal Metamorphosis.”
Honorable Mentions were:
Madelyn, Barch, junior, “Surrealist Daydream,” painting
Anna Beachy, senior, “Record Player Production,” mixed-media
Kerrigan Bell, senior, “Blooms by the Bay,” painting
Isabella Carola, senior, “The Light in the Darkness of My Mind,” drawing
Isabella Carola, senior, “Streets of Tokyo,” painting
Dayton Dille, freshman, “The Wired,” comic art
Emily Elliott, freshman, “Ram Skull,” drawing
Allie Friel, junior, “Tangerine Tango,” ceramics
Olivia Gross, junior, “Parkland Mourns,” editorial cartoon sponsored by The Herb Block Foundation
Anna Lucas, senior, “Wave,” drawing
Alaina McDaniel, senior, “Coloring Darkness,” drawing
Casey Ramirez, senior, “All the Same, But Different,” painting
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
The first three photos below are winning pieces by Ella Neiderer. The second two photos are winning pieces by Grace Lackovic. The last photo is the winning piece by Zoe Rose.
Scholastic Writing Competition
Congratulations, Madelyn!
Theatre: Field Trip
August Wilson African American Cultural Center, City Theatre Company, and DEMASKUS Theater Collective present:
FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer
By Cheryl L. West
Directed by Joy Vandervort-Cobb
Produced in partnership with Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company (Atlanta, GA) and Actors Theatre of Louisville (Louisville, KY)
Fannie Lou Hamer was the baby of her family, who were sharecroppers with 19 children before her. After working on plantations for most of her adult life, she joined the Civil Rights movement. Three years after attending a rally, she co-founded a new political party to advocate for Black voting rights. Involuntarily sterilized, robbed of her possessions, and beaten in jail, Fannie Lou Hamer was not deterred. This play with music has a cast of one, in recognition of the sheer power of Fannie Lou Hamer’s will.
Theatre: Shakespeare Workshop
Good luck CM!
Western Area: Co-Op
Important Dates to Remember
February 17: 2-hour Early Dismissal (Staff Development)
February 20: Snow Make-up Day
NHS Fundraiser
A variety of styles, sizes, and colors are available. This is an "on-demand" fundraiser, meaning that as orders are placed they are filled and either picked up by the buyer or shipped.
Proceeds will go toward National Honor Society, Student Council scholarships, and service projects. Mrs. Rubican, the NHS sponsor, and NHS members appreciate your support!
CMHS Musical
The Canon-McMillan Fine Arts program is producing the smash hit musical, Mamma Mia! Come join over 50 high school students as they bring the music of ABBA to life on stage and in the Pit.
The show takes place on a small Greek island, where Sophie dreams of a perfect wedding — one which includes her father giving her away. The problem? Sophie doesn’t know who he is! Her mother Donna, the former lead singer of the 1970s pop group Donna and the Dynamos, refuses to talk about the past, so Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands. Sneaking a peek in her mother’s old diaries, she discovers three possible fathers: Sam, Bill, and Harry. She secretly invites all three to the wedding, convinced that she’ll know her father when she sees him. But when all three turn up, it may not be as clear as she thought! Told through the legendary music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! has become a worldwide sensation that has audiences everywhere dancing.
Mamma Mia will be performed on Thursday, March 30; Friday, March 31st (family night); and Saturday, April 1st at 7:00pm. The show will also be performed on Sunday, April 2nd at 2:00pm. Tickets are 15 dollars and can be purchased ahead of time at this link or at the door.
Counseling Department
School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week is February 6-10.
A big shoutout to Mrs. Abbondanza, Mrs. Nuri, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Rubican, and Mrs. Humbertson.
We appreciate all that you do for our students!
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
The Chill Project
Athletics
CMHS School Nurse Information
11th Grade Physicals
Pennsylvania state law requires that all students in eleventh grade have physical examinations. Clinicians from Centerville Clinics will be conducting physicals for the 11th graders at Canon-McMillan High School on March 14th, 2023.
If you have turned in your completed physical please disregard this message.
If you had a private physical completed, please use the form attached below and email the completed form to speerk@cmsd.k12.pa.us.
If we do not receive this permission form by March 1st, 2023 you will need to provide a private physical for the school year.
12th Grade Immunizations
Immunization Requirements for ALL STUDENTS Entering 12th Grade
Mandated by the state, all students entering the 12th grade are required to have a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine. The meningococcal vaccine is given to prevent meningitis, and may be known as Menactra or MCV4.
If your child has already received these immunizations, please provide written physician documentation of the immunization dates to the nurse @ speerk@cmsd.k12.pa.us. For your convenience, you can have your physician fax the verification of immunizations to the high school at:724-745-4490
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 class 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: Excused Absence Form. Parent notes can be placed in the absence excuse bin in the Student Affairs Office. Each student is allocated 15 absences (for any reason), per school year, before a doctor’s excuse is required. Any absence over 15, that is not accompanied by a medical excuse, will remain unexcused.
Tardies:
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: Tardiness Form. 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. There are no half days at the High School. Students must be present a minimum of 3½ consecutive hours in order to participate in an after school activity or a game or practice for a sport that is in season.
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: Early Dismissal Form. A student is allocated 13 early dismissals per school year. All early dismissals require BOTH written and verbal confirmation. Please call Mrs. Lucia in the Office of Student Affairs (724-745-1400, ext. 5009) to confirm your child’s early dismissal. All early dismissal requests must be made by 9am. If you are requesting an early dismissal after 9am, please allow 20-30 minutes for your request to be processed. 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’s 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. There are no half days at the High School. Students must be present a minimum of 3½ consecutive hours in order to participate in an after school activity or a game or practice for a sport that is in season.
The Student Affairs Office is closed daily from 12:30-1:00. Students may leave during the closure IF their early dismissal request was submitted and confirmed prior to the closure. If you did not submit a request and you need your child to be released during the office closure, please come to the main office to sign them out.
Votech (WACTC):
Please note that if your child attends WACTC and is absent from school, you must provide 2 excuses (parent note or medical excuse). One will need to be given to Mrs. Lucia in the Student Affairs Office and one will need to be given to WACTC. No copies will be made of a student's excuse and forwarded to another location.
Pre-Planned Trips:
The pre-planned trip form is available on the High School website under “School Links” or by clicking here: Pre-Planned Trip Form. This form must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the start of your trip. Please note that students will only be given one day, for each day they are absent, to make up their work, and they are highly encouraged to make arrangements for their work prior to their trip.
Standing Medical Notes:
If your student has a standing medical note, please note that we will need an updated copy for this school year. Medical notes are only good for one school year and must be updated annually.
Mrs. Lucia can be reached by email at luciam@cmsd.k12.pa.us and by phone at 724-745-1400, ext. 5009.