MHS Announcements

December 21, 2015

Go Muskies!

The Muscatine High School Attendance Office phone number is 563-263-6616. Please use this number when calling in for a student absence, early release, etc.

• Extended Library Hours for Finals
  
  The library is once again planning extended library hours for finals – please help us out by spreading the word to your students! We also have room available, if teachers would like to have study sessions or group work leading up to the end of the semester – contact Mrs. Keltner for more information!
  
  Library Hours during Finals Week:

  Monday, Jan. 4	7:30am-7:00pm *treats 5:00-7:00pm
  Tuesday, Jan. 5	7:30am-7:00pm *treats 5:00-7:00pm
  Wednesday, Jan. 6	7:30am-7:00pm *treats 5:00-7:00pm
  Thursday, Jan. 7	7:30am-4:00pm
  Friday, Jan. 8	7:30am-11:30am

• Winter Break – No School:  December 23rd through Jan. 3rd.   Classes resume on Jan. 4th.
• The library will be closed Tuesday, January 22nd from 10:30am -1:30pm. The Tech Office and Library Cafe will remain open, but the student printer, study tables, student resources, and checkout desk will not be available during that time. Thank you.
• Muscatine Orchestra Boosters are selling Flower Cards for $30. Each month in 2016, the customer takes the card to The Flower Gallery for a “free” flower bouquet. Cards can be purchased from any orchestra member or by contacting Jon Thoma, Orchestra Director, via email at jon.thoma@mcsdonline.org
• Tennis Players: Pick up your tennis information at the Attendance Office (or view/print the attachment) before Christmas break.
  This concerns indoor tennis drills that you need to be doing to prepare for the season.   MHS Tennis Flyer
• Due to unforeseen circumstances, Student IDs must be presented when purchasing food from the Cafeteria.  If you have lost your original Student ID, you can visit the Attendance Office for your one free replacement. Additional replacements IDs are $5.
• Sign-ups for Intramural Dodgeball will begin this week and end January 18th.  Start forming teams now!!  Sign-up forms are located outside the AD office.  The Championship Dodgeball team will be awarded a prize.  
• Enjoy the Star Wars movie in Spanish!  Please see the attachment for dates and times at the Palms Theatres. Star Wars – Spanish
• New Silver Cord Opportunity – see Silver Cord section below.
• Muskie Fans:  Muscatine Basketball Gear is now ready for order.  Check out several Nike products ranging from shirts, hoodies, shorts and quarter zip polos that we have to offer.  To view and order products go to www.monticellosports.com, > Team Login, > click on Muscatine, password: gomuskies
• Need some ‘brain food’ at the end of the semester??  For $2 you can get 24 pieces of delicious German chocolate!  Stop in room 202 or see a German student to get yours before they’re gone!
• 2016 Girl Scout Summer Camp Employment
  Are you looking for a FUN and EXCITING way to spend your summer? If so, we have a great opportunity for you! The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois are currently hiring for a variety of 2016 Summer Camp positions. Positions include Unit Counselor; Communications Specialist; Waterfront Specialist/Lifeguard; Equestrian Specialist; Food Service Assistant; Mentoring Specialist; Activities Specialist (Camp Positions – Level 3). For further information or to apply, please visit: www.GirlScoutsToday.org, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on our Careers tab.
• Muscatine Police Department Mentoring Program –  If you are interested in mentoring elementary school children and have a free period(s) during the school day and have your own transportation, contact  Jeff Conard, MHS Police Liaison.  Pay is $8.50/hr.
• Tri City Electric Apprenticeship Program: The Electrical Apprenticeship Program is open to high school graduates or persons with a GED, 18 years of age and over, and who have successfully completed one year of Algebra.  Those interested should contact the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union #145 at 309-736-4239.
• 26th Annual Cake Auction – Super Heros Theme – Friday, January 29th, 2016.  For more information, please view the MHS Cake Auction link.  MHS Cake Auction
  

  ** Silver Cord Opportunities **

• On January 16th, the MHS Show Choir is hosting their annual River City Showcase Show Choir Invitational at Central Middle School. This year, sixteen groups will be performing from all over SE Iowa and a few from out of state. This is the biggest fundraiser for our Show Choirs and it is crucial that we have volunteers to staff the event. Volunteer duties include, but are not limited to, moving sets onto the stage for performing choirs, to helping to prepare and serve meals in the cafeteria, and monitoring the halls and report any issues to our adult volunteers. There are many more duties that must be performed in order to ensure this event runs smoothly. Volunteers would work in shifts of about 6 hours, and they are welcome to work more than one shift if desired. This is an all-day event with a fun, high-energy atmosphere and is a great way to network with people from many different schools.  
  
  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Invitational Chair, Gail Ryan (mgryan2@msn.com) and Co-Chair, Tammi Drawbaugh (tammi.drawbaugh@mcsdonline.org) for more details and a volunteer sheet.  

  ** Upcoming Events **

  • Dec. 21- MHS Boys Swim JV – Away – Clinton 5 PM
  • Dec. 30 – MHS Girls Basketball Varsity – Away – Dav. West  9 AM
  • Jan. 2 –    MHS Wrestling JV/Varsity – Away – Solon  10 AM

** Scholarships **

Muscatine County Cattlemen’s Association: We have changed our scholarship to “up to three $750 scholarships” this year. The student’s parent has to be a member for at least one year to qualify. Deadline is January 20, 2015.  Muscatine County Cattlemen Scholarship Application    Muscatine County Cattlemen’s Scholarship

Tri-Rivers Conservation Foundation Scholarships:
Paris Application – the Paris Scholarship is for $1000 this year!  Applicants must be a resident of Louisa County ORattend a Louisa County High School AND attend an Iowa college or university.

Director Application – The Director’s Scholarship is for $500.  Applicants can be from a little wider circle known as the Louisa Resources Area (this includes all of Louisa County and surrounding towns/cities) and the applicant can attend any college or university (not restricted to a school in Iowa).

More detailed information is included on the application itself.  Participants can choose to apply for both if they qualify, and can receive these grants more than once.  To apply for both, two separate applications need to be submitted. if you have any questions, please contact Katie Hammond or Don Kline: no1fish@iowatelecom.net

Aspiring Nurse Scholarship:  Nursing Schools Almanac has just launched its second annual Aspiring Nurse Scholarship. Our website will award a $1,000 scholarship to an aspiring nurse who best demonstrates:  A track record of academic excellence, particularly in science and mathematics & A passion for the nursing profession and the overall field of health care
This scholarship is open to all high school seniors who plan to pursue a college education in nursing, including LPN / LVN, ADN, and BSN programs. Scholarship applications will be accepted until midnight on June 30, 2016. Visit www.nursingschoolsalmanac.com and click the banner on the right-hand side of the website’s homepage.

SFM Foundation: The SFM Foundation provides scholarships to students whose parents were killed or seriously injured in workplace accidents while working for Minnesota, Iowa, or Wisconsin employers.  These scholarships are up to $10,000 per year, for up to five years. Visit www.sfmfoundation.com to apply.

Drake Physics Prize: First place is full tuition to Drake University for 4 years.  The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Drake are sponsoring this contest. The exam covers topics in Physics that would normally be studied by students in their first semester of high school physics. The exam must be taken at MHS on a scheduled time between January 27th and January 29th. Students wishing to test must register online by 1:00 pm, Monday, January 25th, 2016 at http://tinyurl.com/DrakePhysicsPrizeStudent2016  For further questions, contact the Physics Department at Drake at 515-271-3141 orsharyn.oconnor-beener@drake.edu

Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.: The Masonic Charitable Educational Corporation is offering the MCED Technical Scholarships (the Mark Earl and Esther Ruth Spencer Technical Scholarships). Students who plan to enroll in a mechanical or trade course of study at an accredited Iowa Community College may apply.  Applications are available in MHS Student Services.  Due Date: March 1, 2016

Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.: The Scholarship Selection Committee of the Grand Lodge of Iowa is again offering scholarships to graduating seniors with a focus on Leadership roles in the area of school and community.  Applications are available in MHS Student Services. Due Date: February 1, 2016

Hy-Vee Foundation Scholarship: Forty (40) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Student must have worked at Hy-Vee since September 15, 2015 or a high school senior son and/or daughter of a full/part time employee.  Student must attend any accredited 2 or 4 year school leading to a Baccalaureate degree.  Applications are available at MHS Student Services or online at www.hy-vee.com under company info.  Due date is February 10, 2016.

Catherine McAuley Scholarship/Mount Mercy University: This scholarship provides free tuition to Iowa students whose family income is $45,000 or less annually. This scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years. The student must be a graduating Iowa senior and enroll at Mount Mercy as a new freshman.  Students must reside on campus for all 4 years and participate in Mount Mercy’s College Success Program during their first year on campus.  Students must complete the FAFSA. To maintain the scholarship, students must successfully complete 24 semester hours per academic year and maintain a 2.0 GPA. *Students are automatically considered for the Catherine McAuley Scholarship upon admittance to Mount Mercy University.

Iowa Student Loan/Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship: 30 Iowa High School seniors will be awarded $2,000 each for use for their Fall 2016 college expenses. Interested seniors must visit www.iowastudentloan.org/SeniorScholarship to register and read the complete rules. Students must complete all three steps before 4:00 pm on March 4th, 2016.

Christina Hixson Opportunity Award: This award is a four-year grant of one-half tuition and fees to be used at Iowa State University. One hundred high school seniors will receive the award.  For eligibility criteria and to apply go to Hixson Award Application or www.hixson.dso.iastate.edu  Due date is February 1, 2016.

United States JCI Senate Foundation Scholarship: This is a $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors planning to attend an accredited college, university or vocational school. The application and more information are at www.usjcisenate.org under scholarship.  Applications are also available in MHS Student Services.  Due date is January 15, 2016.

National Scholarship Search Websites:

1. bigfuture.org
2. scholarships.com
3. fastweb.com
4. icansucceed.org

The GE-Reagan Foundation: This scholarship is looking for students who display leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.  Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, must show financial need, must be a US Citizen and be seniors intending to enroll in a four year college or university.  This scholarship is $10,000 and is renewable for a total of $40,000. Application is available at www.reaganfoundation.org/scholarships. Deadline is January 7th, 2016.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC): The organization offers 4 types of scholarships to apply for.  Students may only apply for ONE: Scholars, Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage, African-American or Black Caribbean Heritage, Hispanic/Latino Heritage. Seniors must plan to graduate from high school and enroll full time in a 2 year, 4 year, or technical school. Other requirements can be found at www.rmhc.org.  Application is at https://aim.applyists.net/RMHC. Deadline is January 20, 2016.

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council is accepting applications for its 2016 college scholarship awards from area high school seniors. Applications are due by January 22, 2016. The winners are selected based on a committee review of their application. This will be our 23rd year of encouraging students pursuing an engineering or science college degree.  Last year we awarded twelve scholarships with a total value of $20,500. You can download a copy of the scholarship application from http://www.qcesc.org under the scholarship link.

The Quad City and Engineering Science Council Scholarship Program was established and is administered by the Council.  This program provides multiple one-time grants/scholarships between $1000 and $3000 each for high school seniors pursuing a STEM degree at a 4-year university. These are awarded on an objective basis without regard to race, sex, or religion.  Criteria include academics, civic/community service, extracurricular involvement, career goals, and an essay on why you want a STEM degree

This year we are pleased to also offer engineering scholarships from Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Western Illinois University Quad Cities Campus, and St. Ambrose University.

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) is an umbrella organization representing 36 technical societies totaling about 5,000 members here in the Quad Cities. The QCESC proudly sponsors annual events such as the National Engineers Banquet and the Engineering and Scientist of The Year Awards. We also provide judges for the local technical activities including Invent Iowa and FIRST LEGO League among other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)-related activities.

Muscatine Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society: Must plan to pursue a career in engineering. Must attend either University of Iowa or Iowa State University in the Fall of 2016. Must have a 3.0 GPA for 10th and 11th grades. Must have an ACT composite score of at least 24.   Two scholarships available; each worth $1000. The application is available in MHS Student Services. Application deadline: January 15, 2016

Iowa Newspaper Foundation: Must be preparing for a newspaper career.   A total of 9 scholarships, all available with ONE application.  Total awards will be approximately $6,700. The application is available at www.INAnews.com   Application deadline: February 12, 2016.

Pearl Hull Falk Scholarship: Must be of Protestant Faith, resident of Iowa, and will attend the University of Iowa full time in the Fall of 2016.  The scholarship award is $800.  The application is only available in MHS Student Services.  Application deadline: May 2, 2016.

Midwest Technical Institute Scholarship Program: Must plan to attend MTI in Fall of 2016.
The application is available in MHS Student Services or with an admissions representative at MTI www.midwesttech.edu   Application deadline: July 1, 2016.