MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL HOME OF THE OLD ABES 2225 Keith Street Eau Claire, WI 54701 http://www.ecasd.us/Memorial-High-School/Home General Number: (715) 852-6300 Attendance Office: (715) 852-6302 Partnership Coordinator: (715) 852-6307 Thursday, January 8, 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------I WELCOME BACK! It’s a great day to be an Old Abe! Ms. Sylte’s Entrepreneurship Class Makes the Grade! Every year, the Entrepreneurship class runs a school-based business. This year, the students elected to sell lip suckers (pictured above with four of the students) and sponsor a movie night for Memorial High School students. Tickets and suckers will be sold before and after school the week of January 12. Movie night is January 15 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Divergent will be shown. Tickets are $3 and VIP tickets are $5. Micon Cinemas is providing free movie tickets to be raffled off during the movie and also is the source for the popcorn! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------Vision of the Eau Claire Area School District: “All children in the district are prepared for post-secondary success!” ------------------------------------------------- This Week’s Events To view the coming week’s athletic schedules, click here. Friday, January 9, 2015 ~ Saturday, January 10, 2015 ~District Marketing competition at UW-Stout, 8:00am-5:00pm ~My Life With Autism event at CESA 10, 9:00am-noon Sunday, January 11, 2015 ~Baseball Open Gym starts at 7:00pm Monday, January 12, 2015 ~Army & Army Reserve rep in Student Services @ 10:30am ~ACT Prep assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school ~College application assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school ~8th Grade Preview Night at MHS for next year’s freshmen and parents, 6:00-7:30pm ~Orchestra Booster Meeting, 6:30pm (Library) ~PAC Meeting at the BOE Building, 7:00pm Tuesday, January 13, 2015 ~Golf open gym in auxiliary gym at 6:30am Wednesday, January 14, 2015 ~Golf open gym in auxiliary gym at 6:30am ~ACT Prep assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school ~College application assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school ~Trap Team Informational Meeting after school in the cafeteria ~Youth In Government fundraiser event at Pizza Ranch, 5:00-8:00pm Thursday, January 15, 2015 ~Golf open gym in auxiliary gym at 6:30am ~Register 8th grade Delong Middle School students ~North Dakota State in Student Services at 10:30 am ~Movie Night in the Little Theatre, 7:00pm Friday, January 16, 2015 ~Register 8th grade South Middle School students Saturday, January 17, 2015 ~ Sunday, January 18, 2015 ~ Good News from Memorial Congratulations to the 2013-14 Memorial Boys Tennis team. The team was awarded the Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award for the State Tournament. The award was presented to the team by two WIAA officials and a Rural Mutual agent at the basketball game on Tuesday night. Congratulations to the team and thank you for representing MHS in a positive light! It’s a great day to be an Old Abe! From Counselor Jane Corning (Giving Tree Coordinator) On behalf of the Memorial Giving Tree, I’d like to thank all the parents and community members who contributed monetarily to the Giving Tree. We were able to give gift cards to 70 students who may have otherwise received few or no gifts. Any additional money we collected will be used to purchase bus passes or pay for other unmet needs of our students during the spring and fall. It is a privilege and honor to give these gifts out. The joy that it brings our students is priceless! OVER the top! Thank you to all those who dropped off candy canes for our All-School Holiday Concert! It has been a long-standing tradition that each student receive a candy cane after the concert. Sounds easy but when you are talking 1700+ students, it can only happen with the help of great parents. Thanks to you, this tradition continues. Just one more reason Memorial is a great place to be! Bright Ideas ‘Tis the Season in Wisconsin! If schools are delayed or closed because of inclement weather, the following local radio and television stations will broadcast the announcement: WBIZ, WAXX/WAYY, WWIB, WIAL, WQRB, WQOW-TV 18, and WEAU-TV 13. The Memorial web site will also note if schools are closed. You can download the app on a smart phone, too. Go to the WEAU or WQOW website, select what notifications is desired and what district you live in, type in the cell number you want the texts to go to and hit “save” – DONE! It is that easy!! News and Announcements To View the Bell Schedule, click here. School Breakfast and Lunch Menu, click here. District Calendar, click here. MHS Daily Announcements, click here Did you know January is College Requirement Month, Poverty Awareness Month, Weight Loss Awareness Month, National Codependency Awareness Month, National Mentoring Month, Stalking Awareness Month, and Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. WOW~A lot to be aware of! As the cold weather settles upon us, we want to make sure all of our students are prepared. Please encourage your son/daughter to dress for the weather. If he/she does not have proper winter wear and needs some assistance, please contact his/her counselor, a teacher or the MHS Partnership Coordinator, Kristin Craker at 715-852-6307. The next Parent Advisory Council meeting will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Administration Building. PAC will discuss the proposed 2015-2016 School Calendar and provide feedback. Our MHS Parent representative is Ellen Faulkner. If you have questions for her or would like to discuss areas of concern, you can contact Ellen at [email protected] Memorial is allowed to have four parent representatives on the district PAC, if you would like to be one of our representatives and have input on decision making in the ECASD, contact Kristin Craker at 715-852-6307 or [email protected]. Winter Carnival Theme: New York New York! Date: Saturday, February 21; Time: 7pm-11pm in the auxiliary gym; Cost: $10/ticket; No admittance to dance past 10pm, must show a school ID or admittance will not be allowed. Please remember showing your picture ID on your phone is not acceptable. If bringing a guest from another school, this Guest Permission Form must be filled out and okayed by administrator BEFORE the dance and they must bring valid ID, and semi-formal attire dress must be followed or admittance will not be allowed. There will be a coat check at the dance, but MHS Student Council is not responsible for lost or stolen items. CVTG upcoming play has multiple Memorial ties! Over the Tavern is playing at The Grand Theatre in January. Click here for details about the play. Memorial 10th grader Reanna Madson will play the part of “Annie”; our retired MHS Library Assistant Ms. Debbie Brown is directing; English teacher Mrs. Barb Goings will play “Mom” (along with her two sons--James will play “Eddie” and Jackson will play “Rudy”); MHS forensics coach Ms. Cass Lamb is assistant director; another MHS forensics coach Ms. Lois Hodgins will play the part of Sister Clarissa (and her husband, Don Hodgins, is playing “Dad”.) Sure to be a grand show! Youth in Government Fundraiser! Please come to the Pizza Ranch on Wednesday, January 14th from 5:008:00pm to help the Youth in Government students go to Madison! You have to eat anyway and this way you can also support this great program. Trap Team Informational Meeting There will be an informational meeting after school in the cafeteria on the 14th of January for any student interested in joining the high school trap team. The meeting will only last 30 minutes. Informational sheets will be in the attendance office for anyone who cannot attend. Come join! Has your income changed? If your income has changed, lunch assistance may be available. If your income falls below the federal income chart, you are eligible for free or reduced school meals. Click here to find out more. Student IDs needed for entrance to school events! Remember, students need their actual MHS 2014-15 School ID to enter any school events. Always. Showing a picture of their ID on their phone is not acceptable. Student must present their 2014-15 student ID to gain entrance to an event. No exceptions. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our events safe. Postsecondary Readiness Visit with college representatives right here at MHS! College reps coming: -Tuesday, January 20: National Guard @ 10:30 am -Monday, January 26: Navy @ 10:30 am -Thursday, January 29: Vermilion Community College @ 10:40 am Financial Aid Night on January 19, 6:00-8:00pm in the Little Theatre Although technical college and university education are very expensive, financial aid (scholarships, grants, part-time jobs, and loans) is usually available. To understand the process of applying for financial aid, seniors who are planning to continue their education after high school are encouraged to attend any one of the following meetings with their parents/guardians. 2015-16 Academic and Career Planning Guide (Course Catalog) link can be found here. Youth Options Application Deadlines: March 1, 2015, for Fall 2015 Semester October 1, 2015, for Spring 2016 Semester All applications should be submitted to Student Services. Interested in taking the COMPASS Test? Sign up in Student Services for the January 20th COMPASS test that will be given here at MHS! ACT Prep at the public library 1:30-4:30; Sunday Feb. 8th, EC Room Lower Level of the L.E. Phillips Library downtown Eau Claire. Registration is required: stop at Youth Services or call 715-839-5007 or email [email protected] ACT Prep Course at UW-Eau Claire. January 31-March 14, Saturdays, 9am-noon OR February 1-March 15, Sundays, 1-4pm. Know what to expect on the ACT exam! Our course includes all five exam sections and two full-length practice tests. You’ll also learn test taking strategies, commonly asked ACT questions, and ways to calm your nerves. $159 per person. FULL scholarships are available to students with financial need. Contact Continuing Education at (715) 836-3636 or [email protected], or visit our website at www.uwec.edu/ce/programs/actprep.htm. Sophomores and Juniors: Prepping for the upcoming ACT? Stop by the DECA room after school January 7th, 12th, 14th, 21st and 28th for ACT prep work, to sign up for ACT prep online and ACT resources. Seniors: Still have a college that you want to apply for? Many universities college application deadlines are February 1st or later; there’s still time to get that application in. Blugold Beginnings staff and mentors are available January 12th, 14th, 21st and 28th after school in the DECA room to help with your application. If you aren’t able to meet after school and still want help with a college application please contact Shannon Waterhouse at [email protected] or 715-836-3456 to set up an appointment during your study hall A few College Application Deadlines to note: University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire- February 1st University of Wisconsin- La Crosse- February 1st University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point- Doesn’t publish a specific date University of Wisconsin- Madison- February 2nd: 2nd Fall Notification University of Minnesota- Twin Cities- December 15- after limited space and more competitive Mark Your Calendar for the Month Ahead            January 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 19, Financial Aid Information Night at MHS, 6:00-8:00pm This is to receive information only January 19, Band Winter Jazz Concert in the auditorium at 7:00pm January 19, Board of Education Meeting in the Admin. Building, 7:00pm January 20, COMPASS Test given at MHS (sign up in Student Services) January 21, ACT Prep assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school January 21, College application assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school January 23, End of First Semester January 26, Staff Development/Work Day, No School for Students January 28, ACT Prep assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school January 28, College application assistance by Blugold Beginnings in DECA room after school                 January 28, 2015-16 Course information to current 9th graders January 29, 2015-16 Course information to current 10th graders January 29, 2015-16 Course information to current 11th graders January 31, Orchestra CELLOPALLOOZA at MHS February 1, WSMA State Honors auditions February 3, Register current grade 9th graders in English classes February 3 – 9, Open register current grade 10th and 11th February 7, Winterfest February 9, Orchestra Booster Meeting, 6:30pm in the library February 9, Band Winter Concert, 7:00pm February 9-12, DECA Crush Sale (Deliveries on February 13) February 16, Staff Development/Work Day, No School for Students February 21, Winter Carnival, 7:00-11:00pm February 22, Orchestra Italian Dinner February 23, Choir Winter Concert, 7:00pm February 28, College Goal at CVTC, 2:00pm This is to fill out your FAFSA Information Words of the Week (W.O.W.) Brought to you by Annis Williams (Reading Specialist) [email protected] Root: sur: above, super   Surcharge [ˈsir-chärj] Noun. Overcharge; an additional charge, tax, or cost. Sentence – There was a $35.00 surcharge added to the cost of the concert tickets because she didn’t order them online. Surreal [sir-ˈrēl] Adjective. Marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream; unbelievable, fantastic. Sentence – Meeting the woman with the exact same name and birthday as my mother was a surreal experience. ********************************************************************************** Common Errors: Weather / Whether Weather can be a noun or a verb. When weather is a noun, it refers to climate – snow, wind, rain. When weather is a verb, it means to withstand something – like a storm. Whether is a conjunction, which joins two words or phrases together. The term whether is similar in meaning to the word “if” and links together two possible choices. I am not sure whether or not to fly to Ohio for my cousin’s wedding. Whether I go to the party or not depends on the weather. Thought for the Day “New Year's Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and selfdiscovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach Eau Claire Community Spotlight DAKOTA MAYNARD’S “MY LIFE WITH AUTISM” SPONSORED BY AUTISM SOCIETY CHIPPEWA VALLEY, January 10, 9 am to Noon at CESA 10, 725 Park Avenue, Chippewa Falls. EVENT IS FREE but registration is required for space. Register at 715-852-3075 or online: http://tinyurl.com/q3xpgjd Kyanna Darnell Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner (Free Will Offering); Meals to Go; Bake Sale; Silent Auction from 4:00 – 6:30; January 12, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2245 Hayden Avenue, Altoona. You may have seen Kyanna on the news. She is a 7 year old from Altoona who was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma, a brain tumor on her brain stem. Youth Archery Workshops Offered in January and February UWEC and Scheels are sponsoring two upcoming Youth Archery Workshops. The first is January 31 and February 7 at either 9-10:30 am or 10:30 amnoon and the second is February 14 and February 21 at either 9-10:30 am or 10:30 am-noon. Cost is $30 and you can register at the Scheels Customer Service desk. Learn about the proper form and technique for shooting a bow and then practice in the indoor archery range. Certified National Archery in the Schools program instructors will run the workshops and all equipment is provided. Call Dan at 715-836-3616 or Tristin at 715-495-4985 for more information. Auditions for Kidz Kabaret! will be held on Tuesday, January 20, at 5:30 p.m., at the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre, 1814 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire. Questions or more information, call ECCT at 715-839-8877. YMCA Active Families, Healthy Lives! Thursdays, January 15th-February 19th, 6:30-7:30 pm; Fee (per family): Y Member $30; Community $40; Join us for this new family fun activity mashup! Each week, families will participate together in a different activity such as Zumba, game night, arts & crafts…the possibilities are endless! This weekly program aims to celebrate the importance of quality time spent together as a family and is sure to feature something fun for everyone! Disclaimer of the Eau Claire Area School District. The Eau Claire Area School District from time to time permits the distribution of information about appropriate non-commercial activities sponsored by nonprofit organizations. The fact that this information is distributed through the Eau Claire School System does not mean or imply sponsorship of, or support of, the activity by the school system. Any problems related to the operation of the activity will be strictly between the participant and the sponsoring organization. Request for further information about the activity should be directed to the sponsoring organization.