Wildcat Press Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 3, July 31, 2022
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Principal's Message
I think we got off to a flying start this week. With some new things like badges and one lunch we anticipated a few hiccups, and we had them, but for the most part they were small and got worked out quickly.
We have a couple of more things coming this week, so please have these conversations with your students. We will begin having a first period sweep for tardy students this coming week, Monday August 1. Please see the description below for a better understanding of the sweep program. We are also going to start charging students who lose or forget their ID and Lanyards. $1 for a sticker. If they have their lanyard and sleeve they can put it in there and wear that until we get ID's on August 9th. If not they will have to wear the sticker and bring the original the following day. Students who are chronically found without their badge will begin to receive referrals and consequences. PLEASE help your student remember their badge.
Teachers and staff are working hard every day to be sure that students have the best experience possible. They are planning lessons and activities that will help students meet the standards the state as designed for students to complete high school successfully. They are also doing all they can to help them understand the habits it takes to be a good employee, boss and citizen. We know that with the right mix of all of these we can help our students dreams take flight, no matter if that is career, military or college after high school. We want them to be life long learners and doers.
Hopefully, you took sometime last week to set up a time and location for your student to do homework. You should start to see them coming home with more of that this week. I want to encourage you to make sure they are spending the time constructively. If they tell you they don't have homework, have them read - a book, an article, a tech manual anything you can get them interested in. Reading complex text is one of our campus goals this year. The data clearly indicates that students who read, are better thinkers and learners. Please help us help our kids get on the right path, don't wait, start a schedule now.
Thanks for all your help,
Rod Huston
Principal
Go Cats!!
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MHS Administrative Team!
Mr. Rod Huston
@MHSWildcat_News
Mrs. Marguerite Brown
Assistant Principal
Academics
Grade Level: Juniors
Freshman F-N
@MHSWildcat_News
Mr. Rudy Alvarado
Assistant Principal
Athletic Director
Grade Level: Sophomores
Freshman: O-Z
@MesquiteAthDept
Mr. Kevin Swann
Activities and Clubs
Grade Level: Seniors
Freshman: A-E
@MHSWildcat_News
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Kibbles N Bits
New District ID Badge Requirements
Student ID Badges 7-12 Grade
For the 2022/23 school year students in grades 7-12 will be expected to wear their student ID badges at all times. Students will be provided with their badge and lanyard during the first weeks of school.
Key Information:
Please work with your students to ensure they bring their ID badge with them to school every day.
When students arrive at school they will enter through a secured door or gate and will be required to have their ID badge for entrance.
Bus riders will use the barcode on their ID badge for getting on and off the bus. As a parent you will be able to view the whereabouts of the bus using the Here Comes the Bus app, more details below.
Students will continue to use the barcode on their ID badges to access nutrition services (cafeteria), library, and bookstore.
If a student forgets their badge they will be issued a temporary sticker badge for a small $1 cost.
Cost for replacement badges (lost ID’s) will remain at $5.00.
Here Comes the Bus
We are excited to announce the introduction of ‘Here Comes the Bus’, a new service for our families whose students ride the school bus.
With ‘Here Comes the Bus’ parents can:
View the real-time location of their student’s school bus
Ensure their student gets to the bus stop at the right time, every time
Know when and where their child boards or exits the bus - Students ID badges will be scanned when they board and exit the school bus.
Parents can easily download the ‘Here Comes the Bus’ app (please see the attached flier with instructions). Once downloaded select whether you would like email, push notifications or both, regarding your student’s school bus. You can also select what notifications you would like to receive.
Sweep
As I indicated in last week's Wildcat Press, Mesquite High School will begin a first hour sweep policy on Monday August 1, 2022. This means any student who is tardy, excused or unexcused, will be sent to sweep for the remainder of first period. These students will be marked as “Sweep” in Infinite Campus, this will not count against their daily attendance. However, these students will be expected to go find their first period teacher during the day and get any missed work and complete it by the beginning of class the following day. Students who report that they have a test will be released with a test pass to class.
We are choosing to implement this program as we have seen that, in particular, the first hour is a problem with students arriving late. This is a disruption to the class and affects everyone's learning. Students who end up in sweep chronically will also be assigned additional consequences by their administrator.
Sweep will be a room on campus where students will go and sit silently for the remainder of the hour. They will not be allowed to have drinks, food, phones, computers or classwork. As they arrive late they will be told to dump any food or drink they are carrying in the garbage (this includes Dutch Bros., Starbucks, McDonalds or any other). If they want to have these items they need to leave home with plenty of time to pick them up and drink them before class.
Teachers will send students who have not arrived in class before the final bell rings to sweep as well. Meaning students need to finish their conversations and greetings with friends and move with enough time to get to their appointed room on time.
Attendance
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MHS Open House
Come one, come all to the Mesquite High School Open House!
Parents, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to get to see the school, meet your child’s teachers, and get a feel for “A day in the life of a Mesquite Wildcat”!
You will follow your child’s schedule, meet the teachers, hear about their classroom expectations, experience first hand how many steps your child takes to get from class to class, and learn about all the extra curricular opportunities that Mesquite offers. Like all Mesquite events, this night promises to be welcoming, engaging and packed with information!
Where - Mesquite High School
When - Thursday, August 11th
Time - 6:00pm-7:30pm
Picture Day!
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Student Schedules and Change Form- NOW CLOSED
The link for students/parents to request a schedule change is now closed. Any requests that were previously made that have not been addressed will still be processed. Any further requests should be emailed directly to the student's assigned counselor. Please keep in mind, no schedule changes will be made for a different elective choice, teacher choice or class period preference.
Beginning of school is a hectic time so we appreciate your patience.
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*Register My Athlete account
*Current physical on the 2022-23 paperwork
*ALL athletes must take the Brainbook and Opioid courses once in their high school career. If you are a freshman or new to sports, you must have those completed prior to tryouts.
More information can be found at: https://sites.google.com/gilbertschools.net/mhsathletics/parentathlete-resources
DON'T MESS WITH THE MANIACS!!
Being part of our student section at Mesquite is a fun way to get involved, meet new friends, and support our athletes. General admission for our sporting events is $5 per game but for $40, they can buy the All Sports Pass that is good for every home game ALL YEAR LONG!! This pass is exclusive for MHS students.
Passes can be purchased at www.gofan.co