Hi Everyone,
Spring...finally! It has been a full year and I won't pretend my blog can contain all the events and achievements of this school year. Our faculty and staff are among the busiest I have encountered and they do it all for the benefit of the students and families they serve. If you haven't done so, I know any teacher would appreciate a kind word, email or card from a parent or guardian. Sometimes, it is the little things, that kind appreciation from someone that drives caregivers like teachers. Frankly, we can all use a kind work about what we've devoted our lives to do - serve others.
T.
Month/Year: April 2011
Current Enrollment: 683
Free / Reduced Lunch Enrollment: 245/50
Student Services Listing: 72
Students of the Month: March
Dillon Shoemaker and Shelbi Prince
Academics:
From Ms. Yount, Science Department: Bio Club will be taking a trip on Monday May 2nd to Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, MO. It is a Clydesdale Breeding ranch.
From Mrs. Julie Exendine, Foreign Language Department: Congratulations to the following French III students: Lexie Abbott, Ana Garcia, Kaitlin Harlow, Paislee House, Nikki Polston, Liesl Walser, Randi Winterhalter, Sam Wren whose original French film was awarded 1st place for Use of Language in their category and 2nd place Comedy in their category at the University of Central Missouri's Foreign Language Film Festival. I am so proud of these girls! They wrote, filmed and appeared in this entirely student created production!
From Mrs. Christina Gerber, Math Department: In Math II we just started learning how to write
2-column algebraic proofs. Once my students started to get the idea of what a proof is and how to write one, I had them come up with their own problem to prove. They did this as an individual assignment and so as a result I was able to use their proofs on a quiz. Everyone who turned in a proof (some turned in two proofs) did an excellent job as I would have written a very similar quiz. When I passed out the quiz they were all really excited to see the problem they wrote on the quiz.
Activities:
From Mr. Cortez, Band Director: We've officially survived yet another MSHSAA District Music Festival. Directors and parents alike praised our efforts in running a wonderful festival, and it could not be done without everyone's help! So, a heart-felt THANK YOU!!
Our large groups performed well, the Choir bringing home an EXCELLENT (2) RATING and the Band bringing home a SUPERIOR (1) RATING.
We had some students who will move on to the STATE level in Columbia (April 28): Vocalists Marshall Forbis and Nikki Jung, Pianists Ben Zinkel and Sabrena Joiner, Trumpet Trio of Abby Braden, Thomas Freeman, and Jonah McKeown.
The following students participated in this year's Music Festival as well: VOCALISTS: Audreonna Taylor, Alexis Mika, Shelby Hobbs, Rachel Silver, Kristin Walch, Monica Martinez, Lacie Matthiesen, Jackie Hurd, Dalyne Test, Jordan Henry. INSTRUMENTALISTS: Nandita Thapar, Piano; Marshall Forbis, Saxophone Solo; Levi Holmes, Piano; Austin Miller, Trumpet Solo; Lawrence Jerichow, Trumpet Solo; Jonah McKeown, French Horn Solo Mexico Trombone Trio (Benjamin Zinkel, Austin Weber, Cassandra Schmidt) Mexico Clarinet Trio (Sabrena Joiner, Carley Nance, Haley Mathews) Mexico Saxophone Quintet (Aaron Lightfoot, Jacob Lauer, Marshall Forbis, Chelsea McCord, Aaron Williams-Conley) Mexico Percussion Ensemble (Michael Perll, Dylan Nance, Ben Rogers, Christian McKeown, Nandita Thapar, Levi Holmes)
From Sarah Pence – Quiz Bowl Sponsor: The Quiz Bowl team finished up the 2010-2011 season on April 9th by placing 4th place in districts. Stephen Houke took home the 3rd place medal for most questions answered during the day. It has been a truly enjoyable season with exemplary students that have received compliments from every tournament that we attended for being "the nicest kids."
Nick Hoth – Wrestling Coach: The Mexico Wrestling team has been awarded the "Team of the Season" by KRCG Channel 13. The River City Credit Union presented the Mexico Athletic Booster Club with a $500 check on the wrestling team's behalf.
Speech & Debate Team – Coach Sara Given: Michael Perll and Nate Hitchcock (District Champions in multiple events) will be competing at MSHSAA State Speech & Debate Friday, April 15th and Saturday, April 16th. They are quite entertaining to watch in both their Duet and their Debate. Administration Team:
The MHS Student Ambassadors have been featured in the 3/50 Project advertisement.
Leadership in Practice was held at the Elks with 35 freshmen and sophomores as well as 6 junior consultants that had previously been through the program. A big thank you to The Elks, The Chamber, Mexico Rotary, and Noon Kiwanis for contributions. Also, thank you to our community members that spoke- Ron Hopkins, Dana Keller and Jeff Frazier.
Shelby Smith and Ana Garcia will represent the Student Ambassadors at the monthly Chamber Meeting.
National Honor Society initiation was held April 6.
Government End of Course Exams were taken March 28.
Mrs. Woolsey finished her interviews with the seniors March 23.
Paul Pitchford from the University of Missouri finished professional development of Understanding by Design with 11 MHS teachers on March 23.
Guidance and Counseling Team:
• College/University visits in March: Missouri S & T, Hannibal LaGrange and Missouri Western
• A+ Advisory Meeting/ Breakfast was on March 9th with Phil Neely A+ Coordinator
• Mexico High School Local Scholarships were due in the Guidance Office on March 15th. This year 96 Local Scholarships were offered. The Guidance Office processed 1,991 scholarship applications from our seniors.
• Scholarships have been distributed to the 96 scholarship committees, for their decisions. The Awards Ceremony will be May 20th at 9:00a.m. in the MHS Gymnasium.
• There are still several Current Scholarships being offered on the Guidance Office webpage.
• The online Government End of Course Exam was administered the week of March 28th.
• ZAPS (an ACT preparation class) was offered on March 29th in the Mexico High School Library.
Upcoming Events:
4/14 State FFA Convention
4/14-16 MHS Chamber & Women’s Choir Trip to Branson
4/15-16 MSHSAA State Speech at MU, Michael Perll and Nate Hitchcock
4/16 MHS Saturday School
4/18 & 4/19 FBLA State Competitions - Columbia, MO
4/18 MHS ASVAB - Testing Rm 308
4/20 MHS FCA Mtg - Band Rm
4/27 Health Occupations Class Blood Drive
Glory of Missouri Awards Recommendations sent to Senator Cauthorne’s office:
Benjamin Zinkel KNOWLEDGE
Shelbi Prince LIBERTY
Shaquille Curtis EQUALITY
Sierra Buck LAW
Nathaniel Hitchcock JUSTICE
Dillon Shoemaker FRATERNITY
Stephen Houke EDUCATION
Micha Willis PROGRESS
Heather Elder HONOR
Rachel Silver TRUTH
Margaret Ganzalez-Meyer VIRTUE
Amorye’ Curtis TEMPERANCE
Marissa Brown ENTERPRISE
Ryan Pickering CHARITY
