October Announcements

We’ve had a wonderful start to the school year! Homecoming was such a blast - students were awesome, staff played along at another level, and the festivities were hugely successful! We appreciate everyone’s willingness to cut it loose a bit - we appreciate our community and how much you support our HOCO efforts!    

Come on out and cheer for our teams as they move into the postseason district and state competitions! We appreciate your support!  

Here are some of the things coming up this month that we’d like to make sure you’re aware of:

October 1st; Idaho Launch Application Window Opens for Seniors:

The Idaho LAUNCH application window opens today, 10/1/24. If you are at all interested in the trades, this route might be one for your postsecondary education! This program highlights the trades and offers quite an incentive (up to $8000) to get prospective students to join forces. Visit: https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/launch

If you're interested in applying for this, please consult with your counselor as you come upon questions with the process.  We will be utilizing the "Next Steps Idaho Portfolio" option in the "Create a Career Pathway" section.    

What is LAUNCH?

Idaho LAUNCH is a grant program that provides students a one-time opportunity to have 80% of the tuition and fees at an eligible institution covered, up to a maximum amount of $8,000. With approximately 75 million dollars available for Idaho LAUNCH funding, it is possible for this program to offer between 9,000 and 10,000 awards per year!

How much is available for students each year?

Students can receive up to one-half of the initial grant award in the first year of a program. However, for programs that are less than 12 months in length, students can use the full awarded amount (80% of tuition and fees up to $8,000) in one year.

Important Dates

• Idaho LAUNCH application opens: October 1, 2024
• Initial applications due: November 30, 2024
• Idaho LAUNCH application closes: April 15, 2025
• Career Pathway Plans due: May 31, 2025

Website for Application: https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/launch 

October 14th - End of 1st Quarter

October 17th – Parent / Teacher Conferences

• 2:00 – 4:00 PM - Teachers will be making parent contacts (via phone call and/or email) and ONLY holding pre-arranged meetings with specific students/parents. 
• 4:00 – 5:00 PM – No conferences (teachers will have a dinner break during this hour)
• 5:00 – 8:00 PM – Conferences in teachers’ classrooms – If you need a map to find your child’s classrooms, please stop by the main office.     

***Please remember that these conferences are meant to give you, as parents, the opportunity to check in with your child’s teachers, and meet them face-to-face.  Due to the potential demand of teachers meeting with large numbers of parents, we ask that your conversations be kept fairly brief and general in nature.  If you feel that you have larger, more specific concerns, please email your child’s teacher(s) and request a separate meeting.

October 18th - No School

October 21st – PD Day (No School for Students)

October 23rd - PSAT

The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT which could possibly lead to more money for college. The highest performers on the PSAT are eligible to earn scholarships like the National Merit Scholarship when taken during students’ junior year. As sophomores, this is an introduction to the SAT (which is typically taken during students’ junior year) to get an idea of what the SAT is like and to learn which subject areas they could benefit from more practice with, before taking the SAT. This year the PSAT is optional. Note: the gym foyer will be partially closed that morning during late start due to the test start time being at 8am.

PSAT Details: 

Date: Wednesday October 23, 2024 

Time: 8:00am - 11:00am (approximately) 

Location: MHHS Main Gym

***Students who signed up for the PSAT exam will be excused from their classes that morning. (Deadline was Sept.10th - sign ups have closed)

Other Announcements:

Homework Club/Math Tutoring is up and running!  Mr. McLean and Mrs. Dubois are in Room 31 from 3-4 PM, Mon-Thurs every week to help students get a little more support.  Please utilize this awesome program.  Note: transportation will not be provided.

School Picture Info:

Senior pictures with (tux and drape tops) will be scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th.

Senior Picture Retakes will be on Friday, December 6th.   

VFW Scholarship Programs

I wanted to again mention that your student has (on their Canvas announcements) info regarding these wonderful opportunities for scholarships and awards through our local and national VFW organization. They can access 6 attachments that explain each potential award. The first five attachments are for student awards - one involves an essay contest, and the other 2 (each has two attachments) involve art contests.  The last one is for the VWF Teacher of the Year. Because we are a military town, our chances are very good in terms of winning; in fact, we've had multiple winners in the past. To find out more, ask your child about the attachments on their Canvas announcements page.

Military Child of the Year Awards

Every year Operation Homefront does a Military Child of the Year® Award. We (through volunteer judges) pick 1 child from each branch  (7 recipients in all) of the services and each recipient receives $10,000 CASH, a laptop, other donated goodies, and a 3-day trip to Washington, DC with us and their families.

Children are entered by nominations. Click here for the flier and click on this link to the nomination page: https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/ 

Nominations open September 10th. Anyone that knows a military child can nominate any military child. So, you may nominate your students or friend’s children and so on. The program is entirely FREE and exclusive to military children.

CANVAS information:

Canvas continues to be our platform for student work, grades, checking missing assignments, etc.  If you are still not signed up under your child’s account, please feel free to do so.  The following link is a step-by-step slideshow that will guide you through the process (one is in English, the other in Spanish):  

Slide Deck Link

Slide Deck Translated to Spanish

SENIOR CELEBRATION INFO:
ATTENTION: Class of 2025 senior parents! The Senior Celebration Committee has started planning our annual Senior Celebration for our class of 2025 students and we want to get you connected. Come be a part of this great opportunity to provide our seniors with a safe fun-filled graduation celebration! Follow the link to join our Facebook group HERE. We will be posting volunteer opportunities and fundraising throughout the year and every little bit helps!  If social media isn't your thing, you can also email us at mhseniorcelebration25@gmail.com to be added to an email group for info instead. We will meet once a month on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm in Mrs. Nordin's classroom (Room 5) at MHHS (thru main office doors and first hallway on the left). Spread the word to your kids that we will continue selling donuts on late start mornings in the foyer by the main gym. We will also be at sporting events and other school activities to raise money, so come say hi! This will be an exciting year for our kids and we would love to have you be a part, no matter how much you are able to contribute! We appreciate you!

Breakfast/Lunch and Food Services Information:

Free and Reduced Meal Forms: Free and reduced meal applications are now available online. Breakfast and lunch meals are not free to everyone this year. To qualify for Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch, you must complete the Free and Reduced Meal application. You MUST APPLY (or reapply) for Free & Reduced Meals each year. Forms are available on Mealtime at the following link: https://www.mymealtime.com/  You can also use that link to pay for breakfasts/lunches on-line. You will need your student's 9 digit student number which can be found in your Parent Portal.  

Outside of my monthly Blackboard messages, please be sure to check our other platforms (below) for other types of information, highlights, activities, etc.  

MHHS Website: https://www.mtnhomesd.org/mhhs

MHHS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MHHSOfficial/

MHSD (District) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mountain-Home-School-District-193-688092921378593/

We are grateful for the calling we have to work with your children. They are certainly unique in their perspectives and have so much to offer. We love that we get to try and harness their energy and direct it into a productive path. Thank you for your partnership! We look forward to another great month ahead! 

 Mr. Gunderson - Principal MHHS