MCHS Newsletter
April, 2025
CLASS OF 2025 HIGH ACHIEVER
MCHS would like to recognize the following student as a High Achiever by scoring at or over 1350 or higher on the SAT. A score in this range can open doors to college admissions at selective universities and/or merit based college scholarships.
Congratulations to Lawson Schmidt. Your hard work and academic skills are commendable!
MCHS DRIVER'S EDUCATION - CLASSROOM & BEHIND-THE-WHEEL
BEHIND-THE-WHEEL: Students currently enrolled in or who have already passed Driver's Ed classroom are eligible to enroll in a 4-week summer behind-the-wheel course that fulfills the state's driver's ed requirement. Sessions vary in dates and times starting in June through the end of July. Students sign up at a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:15 AM in Mr. Fecarotta's classroom, room 2406. To learn more, contact our Driver's Ed teacher, Bob Fecarotta - fecarottab@mchs154.org - 815-568-6511 extension 2406.
CLASSROOM: Students who have not taken Driver's Ed classroom, including incoming freshmen, are invited to enroll in summer school. Classes run from 8 AM to 12:30 PM Monday through Thursday. Session 1 runs from 6/2 to 6/23 (no class on Fridays and on 6/19) and Session 2 runs from 6/24 to 7/14 (no class on Fridays). The cost of driver’s ed is $250; summer driver’s ed students will be charged an additional $100 for the cost of summer school. This is a great opportunity to free up a class period in your student's schedule during the school year and be eligible to take behind-the-wheel months earlier than those who take Classroom during the school year. Contact our Student Services Office for the registration flyer by calling 815-568-6511 extension 1303 and feel free to direct all other questions to our Driver's Ed teacher, Bob Fecarotta - fecarottab@mchs154.org - 815-568-6511 extension 2406.
TEACHERS COLLABORATE THROUGH ART THERAPY
Mrs. Wille’s Interpersonal Relationship class worked with Ms. Lindahl for an Art Therapy assignment. Ms. Lindahl taught the students how to work with clay and the students got to make anything they could dream up! Art therapy is just one of many ways people can use to express their thoughts, emotions, and dreams!
SKYLINE
Skyline just attended the Midwest trade show. Our team really outdid themselves this time! With our amazing teamwork and marketing strategies along with advertising the newest Skyline products while still keeping attention on the classic Skypad, Skyline was able to make over $120,000 at this trade show. We at Skyline are very proud of our success at the trade show, and we can't wait to build on this success.
IDEA COMPETITION
Please congratulate the following students who placed in the Illinois Design Educators Association (IDEA) regional drafting competition!
Wylie Fazekas - 1st place Introductory Board
Ryan Aubry - 2nd place Introductory Board
Ben Wroble - 3rd place Introductory Board
Sean Keller - 3rd place 2D CAD
Wylie and Ryan will now have a chance to compete at the state level at ISU in April!
SUMMER SCHOOL 2025
MCHS is offering a comprehensive summer school this year to address the academic needs of our students. Students are highly encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. The summer school offerings require students to be in attendance in-person at MCHS. All summer school offerings are subject to change based upon staffing and student enrollment.
MCHS students will have an opportunity to earn credit in any core classes they have failed either this school year, or during previous terms. Any student in grades 9-12 who have failed a core class in Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education/Health, or English should consider a MAP Credit Recovery since these are required classes toward graduation. A certified teacher will be available to assist students with the online program during the month of June, therefore student attendance for in-person learning is required. Students who successfully complete any of the available courses will earn 0.5 credits/course. Below is the link to the MAP Credit Recovery flier and relevant information for those courses:
Summer School MAP Credit Recovery Flyer Summer 2025 (English)
Summer School MAP Credit Recovery Flyer Summer 2025 (Spanish)
Eligible students can consider signing up for Driver’s Education Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) and Classroom. Sign-up for BTW will not begin until Wednesday, April 8th and will require onsite registration. Below is the link to the relevant summer information for this opportunity:
Drivers Education Classroom - Summer 2025
Behind the Wheel Guidelines - Summer 2025
MCHS also offers a transitional Mathematics and English curriculum to incoming freshmen in the Class of 2029 who qualify. Below is the link to the Fresh Start flier and relevant summer information for those classes:
SENIOR SAVE-THE-DATE 2025
While there will be more detailed information to follow, and confirmation of dates/times as it gets closer to each, here are the critical dates for Seniors to be thinking about this semester:
Mid March - Delivery of cap and gown orders for students to pick up during lunch. Please note that students must wear approved attire to the ceremony and students will not be allowed to modify the cap or gown in any way.
April 23rd - College Signing Day for any athlete competing at the collegiate level (time TBD)
April 26th - Prom at Starline Factory in Harvard roughly 6 pm - 11 pm. Check-in begins at 4:45 pm in the Commons.
April 30th - Senior Athletic Banquet scheduled for 6 pm in the gymnasium
May 6th - May 13th - Exam Exemption timeline to turn in signed Exam Exemption Forms to the Administration Office
May 7th - Senior Honors Night scheduled for 7 pm in the gymnasium. Students receiving awards will be notified in advance.
May 13th - Locker clean out day during Advisory
May 14th - all registration, class fees, lunch account balances, chromebook fees, or lost/damaged book fees must be paid. Please note all fees must be paid in full in order for seniors to walk in the graduation ceremony.
May 16th - Seniors last day of school (pending no additional inclement weather days). Final assignments, projects, and exams will be determined by the Teacher as there is no formal exam schedule to follow on this day.
May 30th - Graduation rehearsal (mandatory) scheduled for 10 am - 12 pm in the gymnasium, with a tentative Senior Picnic to follow
May 30th - Senior Picnic (tentatively 5 or 6 pm)
June 1st - Graduation Ceremony scheduled for 2 pm in the gymnasium. Students should arrive for check-in beginning at 1:00 pm.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS
Mr. Byrne and Mrs. Brown visited student Advisory periods today to deliver PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) rewards to eligible students! 76% of our students had zero tardies to class in the month of January! 20 winners were chosen at random to receive $20 Amazon Gift Cards. We are so proud of our students for being caught doing the right thing!
Our winners were Ali Hartmann, Jacob Miller, Morgan Zumpf, Parker Weadge, Xander Schueler, Daniella Stephens, Abigail Palek, Jude Lubas, Chloe Szostak, Hunter Jurczyk, Ryan Grismer, Karlyn Stratton, Aleah Pinedo, Sean Moore, Serenity Skiba, Charlotte Conroy, Chase Glanman, Finley Kunzer, Bee Papstein, and Arianna Cruz.
PROM 2025
The MCHS Junior Class of 2026 will be hosting the 2025 Prom, “Under the Lanterns” on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at The Starline Factory in Harvard. Check-in begins at 4:45 p.m. in the High School Atrium (Main doors) at which time students and parents may mingle and take photos in the Atrium. Attendees must be checked in by 5:30 p.m. Transportation will be provided by MCHS #154 school buses which will be leaving MCHS at 6:00 p.m. Any student that needs to take, or have medicine administered during Prom, must fill out the required medical authorization form (available in the Main Office) and have it turned into the Main Office one week prior to Prom. Prom will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and buses will be returning to the school around 11:15 p.m. All students are subject to a search. All Prom attendees must be in tasteful, formal attire. No jeans or cowboy hats allowed.
MCHS students may purchase prom tickets in the Main Office starting on Monday March 31, 2025 through Tuesday April 15, 2025. The cost is $65 per student. Students will sign-up for table placements when they purchase their ticket(s). Dinner will be served buffet style with a choice of chicken or pork, so there is no need to choose a meal. *If you require a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free meal please make a note of that when purchasing your ticket. (This will be a plated meal, but you can still enter the buffet line)
MCHS freshman or sophomore students may attend only if they are an approved guest of an MCHS junior or senior. MCHS freshman and sophomores must have an approved MCHS Underclassmen registration form on file no less than one week prior to the event.
In order to purchase tickets, students must meet eligibility requirements and maintain eligibility through Prom. The eligibility requirements for students are as follows: must be passing 5 classes, have no more than 2 days of ISS per semester, no more than 1 SCAP per semester, and no days of OSS second semester. Also, students must have no unserved disciplinary consequences that were assigned. Students are responsible for knowing what was assigned to them. Students who do not maintain eligibility will not receive reimbursement for the cost of their ticket(s).
Additionally, all MCHS prom attendees and their parents will need to complete a registration form and return it to the Main Office before ticket(s) are purchased. If an MCHS junior or senior would like to bring a guest that is not an MCHS student, both students will fill out the MCHS outside guest registration form (available in the Main Office) and return the form along with a photocopy of the guest’s valid School ID or valid State ID or valid Driver's License to the Main Office before ticket(s) are purchased. This must verify that the guest is at least a freshman in high school and under the age of 21.
Estimated Timetable:
Check-in begins 4:45 p.m.
Buses leave MCHS 6:00 p.m.
Buses return to MCHS 11:15 p.m.
Must Bring:
Prom Ticket (MCHS Student & Guest)
Student ID (MCHS Student & Guest)
State ID or Driver’s License (Guest)
Approved Guest Registration Form (Guest)
Medical authorization (if applicable) and labeled and bagged medications for administration
MENTOR APPRECIATION DAY
Freshman Mentors were treated to a fun-filled day at Main Event in Hoffman Estates on March 7, 2025, in appreciation of their mentorship of our Class of 2027.
FCA
After more than a decade, the Marengo chapter of the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) reconvened in a big way! Over 40 student athletes met to share lessons, play games, and discuss how their faith can help them become better leaders and better humans. Special thanks to Gianna Iovinelli, Leah Palanos, and Amy Smith for spearheading the return of the "Marengo Huddle." Next meeting is April 1, and all are welcome!
STUDENT SERVICES NEWS
Seniors - If you are awarded a scholarship by an organization or college/university, please drop off or email a copy of the award letter to your counselor. A roster of scholarships awarded is included in the graduation program. No dollar amounts are shared, and all details are kept confidential.
Scholarships
Many local scholarships will be due the first few weeks in April. Here is a list of scholarships and their due dates. If you have any questions, please contact your counselor. If any of the links do not work, remember that you can access all applications on your student Xello account.
March 21st
Marengo FFA Alumni Scholarship
McHenry County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship
March 31st
McHenry County Juvenile Officers Association Scholarship
April 1st
McHenry Garden Club Scholarship
April 4th
Marengo Chamber of Commerce (Joe DeMay Memorial)
Marengo Chamber of Commerce (Hometown Hero)
Adrianna Stull Memorial Scholarship
April 7th
Union Fireman Association Scholarship
April 9th
Marengo Education Association Scholarship
Martens University of Illinois Scholarship
April 11th
John Swanson Memorial Scholarship
April 15th
April 18th
American Legion Vocational Scholarship
Dr Dan Bertrand In Pursuit of Excellence
Union American Legion Scholarship
Summer Counseling Hours
A School Counselor will be available periodically throughout the summer. An appointment must be made in advance. Please call 815-568-6511 x1303 to schedule a meeting or email your counselor directly. Schedule changes can only be made if there is a computer error, scheduling conflict, or level change.
FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Dental Examination Requirement
Current 9th grade students are required to provide proof of a dental examination performed by a licensed dentist by May 15, 2025. If you have not already submitted this, please provide the required documentation to our school nurse. School dental examinations must have been completed within the 18 months prior to May 15. Click here for a Dental Examination Form.
Meningococcal Vaccine Required
The Meningococcal vaccine is required for students entering 12th grade. The Illinois Department of Public Health is requiring that all student entering 12th grade show proof of two doses of meningococcal vaccine unless the first dose was administered after 16 years of age. In this case, only one dose is required.
Asthma Action Plan
We are required to request an asthma action plan from parents of student who have asthma. This form must be completed by a physician and returned to the school nurse.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Spring sports are underway. The weather always plays a huge role in scheduling spring sports. The most up to date schedules can be found on the MCHS athletic website at https://schools.snap.app/Marengo. Some games will be canceled and not be made up and some others will be rescheduled. Coaches shall be communicating with their teams of schedule changes. All changes in schedule will be reflected on the website.
Perry Weather System
MCHS has a weather station that is mounted on top of the concession stand. This weather station is able to detect lightning in the area. When it does, there will be a horn and a flashing light. This link https://widget.perryweather.com/?id=922fd8e8-03b3-4519-a1ab-d0c1dcb36d7c will provide you with updated weather information.
Congratulations to our KRC All Conference Athletes for Winter Sports!
Boys Bowling
- Hunter Pankow
- Daschle Mardock
- Lucas Frohling
Girls Bowling
- Krystal Macias
- Callie Walters
- Gabriella Magrini
- Payton Coffman
Wrestling
- Hayden Beebe
- Owen Bills
Girls Basketball
- Maggie Hanson
- Gabrielle Gieseke
- Macy Noe
Cheerleading
- Joey Vroman
- Katie Polizzi
- McKinley Shines
- Morgan Hasa
Important Spring Dates
April 12th: ED Reeves Track Tournament, 9:00 a.m., Track
April 23rd: College Signing Date, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium
April 30th: Senior Sports Banquet, 6:00 pm., Homer “Bill” Barry Gymnasium
Our athletic director, Dwain Nance, can be reached at (815) 568 - 6511 ext. 1612 or nanced@mchs154.org.
