Wildcat Press Newsletter

Hello Pride,

I want to start by congratulating Mr. Bentley on being nominated and selected as Mesquite High's teacher of the year. A very deserving reward for all of his hard work and love for our students.

Lots going on the last couple of weeks with a play, winter sports playoff's, our teachers all got their new BenQ boards and we have had a chance to process our winter test scores and see that we are making progress in our academics.

It's that time in the year where we often see families start to let down their efforts to keep track of how their students are doing in class. Please do not do this, grades for the first 4 1/2 weeks were posted this past week, please take a look and if your student has a grade below a C, please have them reach out to their teacher to see what they can do to improve. This stretch between now and spring break really sets up how our students finish the year, help us keep them on track. They should be talking to teachers to be sure any incomplete work or make up is done before the break.

Hope you all have a happy Valentine's Day!

Rod Huston

Principal

2/15 - Early Release 1:20pm

GPS Charity Dance Concert @MHS 7-9pm

FFA Alumni Meeting 6:30pm G122

2/16 - Guest Speaker for Black History Month 9:30-11:30am

2/17 - Workforce Solutions in the Courtyard 11:15-12:15am

2/18 - FFA Sweetheart Showdown Livestock Show-John Volken Academy Ranch

2/20 - President's Day - No School

Girl's Beach Volleyball 3-6pm Gilbert Christian High School

2/21 - Travel/Culture Club Parent/Student Meeting 6pm B128

2/22 - Early Release 1:20pm

Jostens on campus for Letterman Jacket/Ring Presentation in the Auditorium 9-9:30am

Beach Volleyball @MHS 4-6pm

FAFSA Night 6-8pm

2/23 - Dorado Classic - Softball Tournament @Lincoln Park in Tucson

Travel/Culture Club Parent/Student Meeting 6pm B128

2/24 - FFA to U of A 5am - 8pm

Varsity Baseball vs. Coconino 3:45

Mr. MHS 6-8pm in the Auditorium

Black History Month Scavenger Hunt in the Den 11:30-12:30-pm

Josten's in the Courtyard at lunch

2/27 - Beach Volleyball 3-7pm @Canyon Del Oro

2/28 - Varsity Softball @Vista Grande High School 3:45-5:45pm

Girl's Varsity Tennis @Saguaro High 3:30-5:30pm

Boy's Varsity Tennis @MHS vs. Saguaro 3:30-5:30pm

NHS Induction 6:30-8:30pm in the Auditorium

3/1 - 1/2 Day release @ 11:30am

Read Across America Day

Varsity Baseball @Arizona College Prep 3:34-5:45pm

Varsity Beach Volleyball @Tumbleweed Park 4-6pm

3/2 - Boy's Varsity Tennis @Thunderbird High School 3:30-5:30pm

Girl's Varsity Tennis @MHS vs. Thunderbird 3:30-5:30pm

After three long years, our students, at the direction of Mr. Latham, have successfully put on their first musical, the "Twelfth Night."

This musical was full of talented students with on point punch lines and laughs for all. We can not wait to see what this group produces next!

Mesquite Yearbook is looking for your photo submissions for the 2022-2023 yearbook!

We need photos of

Family Gatherings (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s)

Cheer (at games and their competitions)

Family Adventures and holidays

Email photos in .png or .jpeg format and info to marissa.bradshaw@gilbertschools.net

This past weekend, Speech and Debate competed at the Mesa High School Jackrabbit Jamboree! We did really well! =)

Siena Lacek and Boston Reed did Duet Acting for the first time! They chose to do Legally Blonde, and it was so fun! Duet Acting is a 10 minute, memorized and acted out event where students take a script of something and act it out. They are allowed a table and two chairs for this event.

Jordyn Flores made it to semi-finals again with her Prose! She was 8th overall in that event.

Polanges Bonaney won 4th in Original Spoken Word Poetry!

Hunter Fenn won Prose and Impromptu!

Overview

The BAM Scholarship was created to enable Black and African American students to attend college and pursue a career in technology. The goal is to empower future generations to do and be more.

Award

This year BAM will award 45 scholarships totaling $182,500 (USD):

• four (4) $20,000 scholarships distributed over 4 years ($5,000 per year, renewable)
• forty-one (41) $2,500 one-time only scholarships

Requirements

To be considered for a BAM Scholarship, you must:

• Be a US-based high school senior of African descent (for example, African American, African, Ethiopian, etc.)

• Plan to attend a four-year college or university in the US in the fall immediately following your high school graduation.

• Plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (such as finance, business administration, or marketing)

• Demonstrate a passion for technology.

• Demonstrate leadership at school or in the community.

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

• Require financial assistance to attend college.

• Deadline Details

  Wed, Mar 15th, 2023, 08:59 pm MST

Link: https://app.goingmerry.com/scholarships/blacks-at-microsoft/15099

Dear families,

Exciting news! Your student is invited to join us on a once-in-a-lifetime international travel experience with their peers in Spring or Summer of 2024!

Educational travel exposes students to new people, places, and cultures which in turn expands their knowledge of the world and their knowledge of themselves. That's why I'm thrilled to bring this opportunity to your family and our community. There are two options for traveling; London, Paris, & Italy OR Greece. These trips will fill up fast, so please join my informational meeting to learn:

* How this opportunity will benefit your child

* What we'll see and do on our trip

* Everything that's included in this experience

* How your child can earn academic credit

* How we're keeping this safe and affordable

Our meetings will be held Tuesday, 2/21 (London) and Thursday, 2/23 (Greece) at 6:00pm in B-128 at Mesquite HS. One parent must be in attendance. So that I can alert you of any changes to this meeting, you must register using the link for your interested trip:

Grecian Odyssey!

London, Paris, & Italy!

Can't wait to see you there!

Cheers,

Alexena Radway

alexena.radway@gilbertschools.net

Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program

Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants are pleased to be able to continue with our scholarship program for the 17th year.

We will be awarding up to $1,000 to the winner(s) each year.

Scholarship Deadline - June 10, 2023.

Application Process
Students will submit an essay on the topic that appears on the scholarship page of our web site: https://abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.php
Full details are available on our site.

The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is named for a long-time National Press Club member who died in 2008 and endowed a scholarship in aid of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism. Recipients receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000.

Award Details: $5,000

Applicant must:

• Be a high school senior class of 2023 in the process of applying for admission to an accredited college or university in the U.S.

• Have a 3.0 grade-point average or higher.

• Plan to pursue a career in journalism.

Deadline Details: February 15, 2023

Link to Apply:https://app.goingmerry.com/scholarships/richard-g-zimmerman-journalism-scholarship/7345

Richard G. Zimmerman Journalism Scholarship:

The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is named for a long-time National Press Club member who died in 2008 and endowed a scholarship in aid of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism. Recipients receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000.

Who may apply:

• Be a high school senior in the process of applying for admission to an accredited college or university in the U.S.

• Have a 3.0 grade-point average or higher.

• Plan to pursue a career in journalism.

Award Detail: $5,000

Deadline: February 15, 2023

Link to Apply: https://app.goingmerry.com/scholarships/richard-g-zimmerman-journalism-scholarship/7345

Right after spring break, State Assessment season will begin. According to state requirements, our 9th grade population and our 11th grade population will need to be assessed. The dates and assessments are as follows:

Grade 11:

• March 28th and March 30th, all 11th grade students will take the AZ Sci exam. Master Bell Schedule is NOT altered on these dates.
• April 4th- ACT- All students not taking the exam will follow a Late Start Bell Schedule.

Grade 9:

• April 11th- ACT Aspire- All students not taking the exam will follow a Late Start Bell Schedule.

Seniors!

It is that time of year to put in requests for recognition for awards assemblies and graduation! Please contact your advisor and let them know what you would like…a detailed list of any/all honor items: cords, stoles, pins, chenille letters, etc. Be sure to include the colors, design and how many of each you want. The deadline for ordering recognition items is March 1.

Dance Dance Dance!

Come watch "Lighthouse For Hope"! Beyond Motion Dance Company, along with guest dance companies from Gilbert, Highland, Campo Verde, Desert Ridge and Basha will be performing Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00pm in theMesquite High School auditorium! Tickets are $7 and all proceeds are going to be donated to Lighthouse For Hope, a nonprofit organization that helps those fighting pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

Come see a spectacular show AND benefit an outstanding cause!

This has all the makings of a fabulous night!

MR. MHS

Please join us and see some of the most talented young men on campus for the Annual Mr. MHS contest. This event will include an opportunity for each contestant to show off a unique talent or skill as well as walk the stage in some of their best looks. Our judges and our hosts will challenge our contestants with some questions to test their knowledge about some pressing world concerns. And no Mr. MHS contest would be complete without a group dance number. Be sure to come out and see a spectacular event Friday, February 24 at 6:00pm in the Mesquite High School Auditorium.

Black History Month

As part of our Black History Month activities, MHS Students will have the opportunity to take part in a BHM scavenger hunt! Beginning Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24th, students can come to The Den during lunch and receive a clue that will start them on a journey through a wide variety of information about important events and prominent African Americans throughout history!

Travel/Culture Club

The MHS Travel/Culture Club will be meeting Tuesday, February 21 and Thursday, February 23 to discuss the exciting trips they have planned! The meetings will take place in Ms. Radway’s room (B128) beginning at 6:00pm. If you are interested in traveling out of our country with a group of your peers, you don’t want to miss these meetings!

FAFSA Night!

Mesquite counselors will be in the College and Career Center from 6:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, February 22 to help students and parents navigate the ins and outs of completing the FAFSA application. FAFSA is required by colleges as part of the acceptance/entrance procedure and this is a great way to get your questions answered and the application completed with expert help!

CLASS RINGS/LETTERMAN JACKET!

Jostens will be on the Mesquite High School campus on Friday, February 24th during lunch. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and order their Class of 2023 Class Ring as well as a Letterman Jacket!

Mesquite wrestling, girls soccer, and both boys and girls basketball, are still competing for State Championships this week. Here's some info for each sport. Specific information about dates, times, locations can be found at www.azpreps365.com

Wrestling - We've had 2 girls qualify for the State Championship already and our boys compete on 2/11 to try and earn a spot in the Championships. Those that make the State Championship will compete at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum on Feb 16-18.

Girls Soccer - After a HUGE 1-0 overtime win on Thursday, our girls head to Walden Grove HS on 2/15 to take on the #1 team in 4A. Good luck ladies!!

Boys & Girls Basketball - Both basketball teams begin playing for the 4A State Championship this week. The girls will host the first round on 2/15 and the boys will be home on 2/16 as they look to defend their title. Opponents will be revealed on 2/11 and posted on the AZPreps365 website.

Last week was the official start of our Spring sports. Congratulations to all who made the teams this year! We are looking forward to a fun, successful season for all who are participating. Go Cats!!

Email: mhsinfo@gilbertschools.net
Website: https://www.gilbertschools.net/mesquitehigh
Location: 500 S McQueen Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233, USA
Phone: 480-632-4750
Twitter: @MHSWildcat_News