MHS Announcements

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.

November 10, 2015

Go Muskies!

• The Volleyball Banquet will be TONIGHT, Tuesday, Nov. 10th in the Commons starting at 6 PM.
• CAN-BALL: Can-ball packets are available in the Student Services office. Get a team of 6 guys together and sign up.  Cost is $5 per person or 3 canned goods.  Team sign-ups are due TODAY, Tuesday, November 10th. Can-ball competition will be held on Thursday, November 12th, at 6:30 in the MHS Gym. (Can-ball is a boys volleyball game for the food-drive at the High School sponsored by Student Council. A team consists of 6 players — one sub or alternate is permitted per team.)
  Spectator admission is $2 or 2 canned goods.  All proceeds go to the MHS Food Drive.
• Iowa Assessment Testing – We will be giving the Iowa Assessments on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10th and 11th in the morning from 8:22-10:15.  These tests are for 9th-11th grade students ONLY.  Students should report to their 3rd hour class for testing.  After testing is completed at 10:15, the 2-Hour Late Start schedule will be followed.
  • 12th Grade students DO NOT need to report to school until the 10:22 start time on Nov. 10th & 11th.
  • Any 11th grade student who currently has an exemption 3rd period will be required to report to the Commons for testing at 8:22 on both days of testing.
• Join us for SOAP this Thursday night from 7:30 to 9:00 at 2702 Surrey Court.
• #ReviewsdayTuesday You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
  From online entertainment pioneer, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is a “relentlessly funny and surprisingly inspirational”, memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to internet stardom, and embracing her weirdness to find her place in the world.  Felicia’s rags-to-riches rise to internet fame launched her career as one of the most influen­tial creators in new media. Ever candid, she opens up about the rough patches along the way, recounting battles with writer’s block, a full-blown gaming addiction, severe anxiety and depression—and how she reinvented herself when overachieving became overwhelming.
  Come check out this great book (and others) in the library!
• Student Council Coat Drive – Nov. 12-19th. View the Coat Drive link for more information.  Coat Drive
  
• New Scholarships added. See Scholarships section below.
• Any girls’ cross country runner interested in a nutrition presentation Wednesday at Hy-Vee at 5:30 should contact Coach Armstrong by e-mail or text.
• Popcorn Wednesdays – Student Council will be selling popcorn on Wednesdays for the next two weeks! It will be one dollar or two canned goods. Proceeds go to our November food drive!
• GSA will meet Wednesday, November 11, at 3:30 in room 130. (Mrs. Walker’s room). Please note the room change. We will discuss fundraising and awareness projects for next month. We will also consider candidates for president, vice-president , and other offices.
• Boys Basketball Players:  Anyone that is interested in playing boys basketball this year, there will be a player and parent meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 5:30 p.m. in the MHS Auditorium.  Also, if you have not already done so, please make sure all physical and other athletic forms are turn in or you will not be able to participate on opening day.  
• Seniors: The deadline to upload your senior picture to the  yearbook is November 13th. If you do not upload one, your school picture will be used. Attached are the instructions on how to upload your picture to the website.  Please contact Katie Brown at katie.brown@mcsdonline.org if you have any questions.  Sr. Photo Instructions
• Countdown to the Holidays with delicious German chocolate!! $4 each.  In Germany many children have ‘Adventskalendar’ to help count down the days to the winter holidays. Starting December 1, they open one window on the calendar each day to reveal a tasty German chocolate until they’re all gone on December 24.  You can participate in this tradition too!  See a German Club member or stop by room 202 to buy one for $4.  Let your parents and grandparents know too – they make great gifts!
• The 2015 Muskie Football Banquet will be held on Sunday night, November 15th at 6pm in the MHS Auditorium. The banquet will be for Freshman, Sophomore, and Varsity Football players.
• 2015 Muskie Winter Kickoff – Monday, Nov. 23 @ 7PM in the MHS Gym.  Please view the Winter Kickoff link for more information.  Winter Kickoff

** Silver Cord Opportunities **

• Please check back later for Silver Cord Opportunities.

** Upcoming Events **

• Seniors – Nov 13th – Senior Pictures for yearbook due
• 2015 Muskie Winter Kickoff – Monday, Nov. 23 @ 7 PM in the MHS Gym.  Winter Kickoff

** Scholarships **

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.

Young Entrepreneur Foundation Scholarship: NFIB is sponsoring a scholarship for graduating seniors who own their own small business.  Scholarships range from $2,000-$25,000. Apply at www.NFIB.com/YEA  Due date: December 18, 2015.

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

Seniors interested in the UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: The Hesburgh-Yuscko Scholars Program is a merit based opportunity for incoming students attending Notre Dame. This is a leadership development program that seeks to attract, encourage, and equip extraordinary students who will have a transformational effect on the Notre Dame community, the Church, and the world.  Benefits of the program include: $25,000 per year toward the cost of attendance at Notre Dame for 4 years (total of $100,000), 4 fully funded summer enrichment experiences, intellectual engagement, etc. Visit www.hesburgh-yuscko.nd.edu for more information and to apply. Deadline is November 15th, 2016.

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

Horatio Alger Scholarship: Must demonstrate financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required). Must be involved in co-curricular activities and community service activities. Must display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity. Must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Must be a US Citizen.  Scholarships range from $7,000-$22,000.  The application is available at www.scholars.horatioalger.org   Application deadline: October 25, 2015.

Hagan Scholarship:  Must have 3.5 GPA or Higher.  Must have 23 on the ACT or higher. Other eligibility requirements are on the website.
The scholarship award ranges from $1,000-$40,000. The average disbursement is $24,000.  This scholarship is only available in 10 states, including Iowa.  The application and more information is available at www.hsfmo.org   Application deadline: November 15, 2015.

Jerry Woods/Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) Scholarship: Must be enrolling in the first year at an Iowa community college or tech school building trades program including concrete technology and practice. Must be a resident of Iowa.  Scholarship is $2,500 per year for 2 years.
The application is available at www.iowareadymix.org or in MHS Student Services.
Application deadline: November 30, 2015.

Young Entrepreneur Foundation Awards: Must have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. Must be a graduating senior that owns/operates his/her own small business. Must plan to attend a 2 year, 4 year or vocational school.  Scholarships/awards range from $2000-$15,000
The application is available at www.NFIB.com/YEA   Application deadline: December 18, 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.