MCAS Communicator

Please post for/share with those employees who do not check email.

We hope our MCAS family had a great holiday season!

This year, the MCAS instrumental and choral music students (grades 6-12) recorded a virtual performance of One City One Sound. Click on the link below to enjoy the show!

ONE CITY ONE SOUND 2021

Many thanks to our music teachers and students - and to Access LaPorte County for their assistance with this production.

This year, MCAS collected MORE THAN 4 TONS OF FOOD for The Salvation Army food pantry through our annual canned food drive. (This is more than a ton over the amount of food we collected last year!) This effort is coordinated by the Michigan City High School Student Council, with ALL of our schools participating. Special thanks to the MCAS Transportation Department for hauling 3 buses of food between Ames Field and The Salvation Army; to Sodexo for helping to set up and collect at Ames Field; and for all of our student volunteers who helped sort, weigh, load, and unload all of this food. This was a huge success for a worthy cause.

Special shout out to Knapp Elementary School for winning the traveling trophy this year by collecting the most food (2,684 pounds!!)

The Michigan City Human Rights Commission is once again holding a Black History Month Contest, open to all students within the district boundaries of Michigan City Area Schools.

This year's theme is "Naomi Anderson - Michigan City's Forgotten Hero."

Contest rules and entry forms are not available yet, but they will be posted HERE soon on the city's Human Rights website. (We will also forward them to staff once they are released!) Entries will be due by February 7th.

Thank you to ALL who donated to our 2021 United Way employee campaign. Together we raised about $10,000 for the United Way of La Porte County!

CONGRATULATIONS to the team at Knapp Elementary School who celebrated last month with a Coffee and Donuts Breakfast as the winning building in our annual United Way Employee Campaign! These Knapp Knights really stepped up the United Way game this year and had the largest percentage of employees who donated to the campaign.

ALSO, congrats to Elizabeth Law (Lake Hills) who won the raffle for a lunch or dinner meeting with Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins AND Cindy Gesse (Edgewood) who won the United Way basket raffle.

But the real winner is our COMMUNITY! MCAS donations to the annual United Way campaign will ensure that programs such as Safe Harbor, Kindergarten Countdown, and the Open Door Adolescent Health Center continue to provide services to children in Michigan City.

Many of our students will be taking part in the Centerstage Theatre production of Frozen Jr. at Michigan City High School in January. Performances are Friday, January 14 at 7 pm; Saturday, January 15 at 7 pm; and Sunday, January 16 at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children under 5.

The Environmental Science classes at Michigan City High School are collecting empty 2-liter bottles and cans!

If you have any, please send them to Adam Goebel at MCHS. You can contact Adam HERE with any questions.

THANK YOU!

EAP Webinar - September

Resiliency: Build Your Mind's Strength

&
Change One Thing: How Small Changes Can Make a Positive Difference in Your Health

Wed, Jan 19, 2022 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CDT (NOTE NEW TIME)

Register HERE

Dr. John Monk, who recently joined Franciscan Health (along with his wife Dr. Ashley Monk) provides a FREE Zoom presentation on Women's Health. In the video, he addresses information including causes of heavy or irregular periods, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, and treatment options.

Click on THIS LINK to register and watch the video at your convenience

The Northwest Indiana African American Alliance is looking for high school and middle school students to join the Black History Month Trivia event on February 19 from 1pm to 3pm at the Valparaiso University Christopher Center Room 205. (Snow date is March 5).

First place: $100 gift card for each team member

Second place: $50 gift card for each team member

Third place: $25 gift card for each team member

(All participants receive a T-shirt)

Deadline to register is January 15

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Need CPR Certification? Here are two options to consider!

OPTION 1: Val Skwiat, Trainer/Safety Manager, MCAS Transportation Department has provided the following information:

• Go to elearning.heart.org and complete your course.
• Send Val an email or call/text to schedule the "hands on" portion.
• If you live near, she can come to your house, or meet at your school.
• She will need a copy of your course completion certificate.
• The cost is $15 and she will have the certification card for you.
• vskwiat@mcas.k12.in.us - Cell: 219-874-1716

OPTION 2: David Sanders, EMT Instructor at AK Smith, has provided this info about his company, Crash Course CPR:

• Go to IneedaCPRcard.com for information
• A simple CPR Card refresher class is $30. This is an all-inclusive class including an online quiz and skills test out.
• Takes approximately 1 hour to complete (also available through Zoom)
• Appointments available - Monday through Friday 10:00 am - Noon, plus after school and evening hours.
• Bring your friends: We have enough CPR equipment to provide individual or up to 40 students at a time.
  
• Payment can be made at the time of service or online at www.IneedaCPRcard.com
• Questions? Contact David Sanders (812) 821-0433

This spring, Purdue University Northwest will once again host its Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism Series via Zoom.

Speakers will be:
Leonard Harris, Ph.D. & David Detmer, Ph.D. - "Necro-Being: Worst form of Racism"
Tim Wise - "Race, Racism, Anti-Racism, & Civic Responsibilities: Candid Conversations with Tim Wise"

Mieko Yamada, Ph.D. & Deepa Majumdar, Ph.D. - "Racism, being Color-Blind, and Beauty"
Neeti Parashar, Ph.D. - "From Barriers and Biases to Belonging: Lessons from a Female Physicist"

Kim Scipes, Ph.D. & Vince Emanuele - "The Racial Face of War"

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, to see program dates and times, and for more information.

January 17 - NO SCHOOL

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts (101 W. 2nd Street in Michigan City) will be holding a free "Family Day" event on Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 1-3PM.

All are welcome! Children/youth and guardians will spend time safely in the galleries with educational docents, followed by snacks and art-making.