MCAS Communicator

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

Don't miss the April 1st edition of the Beacher weekly newspaper. The lead story features several of our awesome MCAS teachers, including Parker Sterling, Megan Edinger, Christina Parsons, Sheri Tuesburg, Mike Tsugawa, Susan Baldwin and Lori Jones.

Way to go, Team M.C.A.S.!

Plans are in the works for a “Better World Day” involving all elementary and middle schools on May 7. This national movement is associated with our new Language Arts curriculum, EL Education, and engages students in student-led service-learning projects that impact our community and connect with topics they have been addressing in the curriculum. Much more information to come about Better World Day!

Note: A collection drive for hygiene items in conjunction with Better World Day is now under way at all elementary buildings. Please consider donating a few items (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, deoderant, etc.) at the school of your choice, and tell your friends! A flyer about this collection drive is here ... please share.

Don't forget: Michigan City Area Schools is now a "partner district" with DonorsChoose!

As one of the 120+ members of the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program, MCAS now has a customized landing page. We've publicized this now, so more people are visiting to check on the posted projects.

Here is a webinar that gives you an overview and tips on posting a project... and here's a toolkit with even more info. We also have four DonorsChoose Teacher Advocates in our district, and all of them are happy to help and share tips: Tessa Maguire (Pine), Susan Shell (Marsh), Laura Daly (MCHS) and Laura Charpentier (Lake Hills).

Eleven Michigan City Area Schools Art Teachers are featured in a new exhibit at the Lubeznik Center’s NIPSCO Education Studio gallery called “Inspired/Inspire”. This must-see show runs through April 30th. Works on display include painting, photography, sculpture, and drawings. Artists included are Holly Beadles, Diane Grams, Samantha Rich (artwork featured at left!), Erin Ledyard, Karen Maudlin, Julie Pitman, Sarah Quartuccio, Matthew Raney, Kelly Tokolly-Rothermel, Suzanne Vigen and Cheri Whitler. Congratulations to these remarkable artists!

MCAS is offering another COVIC vaccine clinic at Michigan City High School on Friday, April 16 from 9-3. This is open to students age 18 and over, and also to any staff who woudl like to attend.

Sign up and more info is here!

Please remember to contact Debbie Briggs at the Open Door Health Center if you need to cancel or change your appointment time after filling out this form.

(Staff and students who are fully vaccinated -- two weeks after their final dose -- do not need to quarantine if they are close contacts. Hooray!)

Spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested: The MCAS Transportation Department is in need of bus drivers. This is a great part-time opportunity for individuals who would like to work only during the school year and have holidays off! No experience is needed; training takes place at the Transportation Dept. Apply online at http://educateMC.net or call Val Skwiat at (219) 873-2127.

Here is a link to a folder that contains 2021 Mileage Log Sheets and Information. If you claim mileage, be sure to use these updated documents!

We had a successful online Kindergarten Roundup last month. Any families who missed Kindergarten Roundup can still enroll online by visiting http://educateMC.net/kindergarten to complete the information. Parents should contact their local elementary school with any questions. Our website also provides information and resources for next year’s kindergarten families, including a form to request placement at one of our elementary magnet schools and an application for our summer transition program, “Kindergarten Countdown.”

Safe Harbor is hiring before and after school staff members at the elementary level!

Apply today at https://employment.mcas.k12.in.us/

Safe Harbor was chosen as one of six programs in the country to be featured in a recent report by the Afterschool Alliance on after-school programming success and the evolution of 21st Century Learning Centers. Check it out here. Kudos to the Safe Harbor team for their outstanding work with our students!

Our Adult Ed Program is offering two special opportunities. Please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested:

• Parapro Classes are starting April 14th (and will be offered again in May). Read all about this here!
• HSE Boot Camp begins April 12th! Students ages 17-24 can take 2 weeks of classes to prepare for the high school equivalency exam...and then take the exam at the conclusion of the session. Read details about HSE Boot Camp here.

Need CPR Certification? 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 $15.00 and she will have the certification card for you.
• vskwiat@mcas.k12.in.us - Cell: 219-874-1716

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 14 at 3:30pm to celebrate the refurbished Michigan City High School softball and baseball fields. The event will be held prior to our teams taking the fields to play home games that afternoon. Wolves fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate our new fields.

Speaking of Softball... Please take a second to check out our MC shop! This is a fundraiser for MCHS girl's softball. The shop will be open until Wednesday, April 7th.

https://fancloth.shop/JKSLY

Campaign ID: JKSLY

Registration is now open for the Michigan City High School Athletics Department golf outing fundraiser on Friday, June 18th. Foursomes are $400 and include all golf and cart fees, food and drinks, and a post-event reception. Please contact the Athletic Department directly to register, by calling 219-873-2043.

Franciscan is offering 3 special opportunities for MCAS and Sodexo staff and their family members to have noninvasive Heart & Lung scans performed. (Many people have been putting off routine medical care due to COVID... don't put this one off!) There is a special gift for MCAS staff and their family members who attend one of these dates. Be sure you mention you are with MCAS when calling to reserve a spot - times are between 3pm and 7pm on these dates:

Thursday April 15

Monday April 19

Tuesday April 20

More information and a number to sign up is HERE.

The Laporte County Broadband Task Force is conducting a survey about gaps in internet service in our county. Please help them by taking the following survey (at home) to assist them in their effort! https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHHs1K3FVkJXH4G

Here is a recent article with more information about this survey and the task force.

The Indiana State Museum is inviting students to reimagine the 16th President using any medium of their choice in the third annual Friends of the Lincoln Collection Art Contest. This year's contest, open to Indiana students age 10-14, will be completely virtual. This means all artwork must be submitted digitally. Each entry must include an artist’s statement that explains what medium was used to create the piece and why. Include name, age, grade, teacher and school as well as contact information (phone and/or email) for any awards received. Only one entry per student. Entries must be received by April 23. Entry info is here.

The Indiana Family & Social Services Administration is accepting submissions for its Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Art Exhibition. This year’s theme is “Self-Care in Difficult Times” and youth who submit art projects depicting this are eligible to win a cash award of up to $2,000. The exhibition is open to all Indiana youth that are middle school age, high school age, or fall into the transitional category (post-high school up to 24 years old). April 30th is the submission deadline.

Contest Details

Submission Form

EAP Webinar - April

Embracing Our Difference:

Inclusive Diversity In The Workplace
& How to Talk to Your Kids about Vaping

Wed, April 21, 2021 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM CDT

Register HERE

Do you enjoy Holly's? Give back to the MCHS Healthy Culture Committee by eating there on April 20th! Here is the coupon.

The LaPorte County Meals on Wheels program is conducting a shoe collection drive April 1-May 31 at several locations in Michigan City and LaPorte. Consider donating your used shoes to help this worthy cause in our community.

Here is a flyer about this!