MCAS Communicator

We are a diverse community of families, students, and staff who take pride in our schools, contribute positively to society, and prepare students for lifelong success.

March 4th through 8th is National School Social Work Week, a week set aside to focus public attention on the unique role of school social workers, highlighting the impact they have in helping meet the needs of students and their families. The work of our Success Coaches and Social Workers is so important to our students’ academic and personal success. Thank you!

MCAS will celebrate "National School Breakfast Week" from March 4-8. This year's theme is "Surf's Up with School Breakfast." Our MCAS Food Service team will feature special menu items during the week that may replace existing breakfast items. Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

• Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
• Score higher on standardized tests
• Have better concentration and memory
• Be more alert
• Maintain a healthy weight

THANK YOU to our Food Service team for serving nutritious and delicious meals every day.

There have been some new additions and changes to our Finance Team at the Ad Building. Here's who's who! (Pictured left to right):

Ella Brinckman, CFO Secretary, x8341 - Ella handles retiree insurance payments, ECA accounts, worker's comp claims, and assists school treasurers.

Sherie Breitenbach, Finance Assistant, x8308 - Sherie helps with many dues in the department, including tracking grants.

Tracey Haas, Deputy Treasurer, x8346 - Tracey oversees Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable for our school district.

Lisa Rosinko, Chief Financial Officer, x8345 - Lisa leads the department and oversees all finances for our district. (She also signs your paycheck!)

Marie VanSickle, Benefits Coordinator, x8317 - Marie (who recently moved from AK Smith Treasurer to the Finance Dept.) manages employee benefits.

Katrina Perry, Payroll Assistant, x8314 - Katrina is our district's payroll guru!

Kindergarten enrollment is now taking place online! Links to enroll are posted on the district website at www.educateMC.net. Parents needing assistance or those who would like to drop off required documents can come to elementary schools on Thursday, March 7 from 12:30-6:00pm.

The Little Wolves Early Learning Center is now enrolling 4-year-olds for Fall 2024 – and they also accept children at any time when they turn 4. An Open House for families with children who may be interested in enrolling will be held on Thursday, March 14 from 3:00 - 6:00pm. Little Wolves is located at 1001 U.S. Hwy 20 in the former Brown Mackie building. For more info visit http://educateMC.net/littlewolves or call (219) 873-2035.

A Business After Hours event is also scheduled at Little Wolves on Wednesday, March 20 from 4:00 - 6:00pm, in partnership with the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce. Members of the business community who are interested in touring the center and seeing the renovations underway in the career-tech portion of the building can RSVP on the Chamber website.

Spread the word! Sodexo is hiring full-time positions for EVS Attendants (custodians). They are currently hiring for 2nd shift, Monday-Friday - off weekends! Shifts available are 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; and 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Incentives include paid holidays, vacation and sick days, flexible hours, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401K retirement, and $14 hourly. Anyone interested in applying, please visit Indeed.com, search Sodexo-Michigan City, Indiana and apply to the Environmental Service Attendant. Any questions, please call 219-873-2124 ext. 8500.

Michigan City High School will once again welcome several students and their instructors from Zama Sogo High School in Japan, who will be visiting from March 9th through the 19th. The students will be hosted by the families of students who are studying Japanese. This longtime cultural partnership was interrupted due to COVID, and we are pleased to welcome the group back to our high school this year!

Congratulations to LaPorte County Career & Technical Education teacher Cathy Lindgren, who has been selected by Ivy Tech’s Valparaiso campus as its 2024 Dual Credit Teacher of the Year! Cathy (pictured here with A.K. Smith Director David Notary) teaches Education Professions at A.K. Smith. She is among 19 finalists who will now be considered for Ivy Tech’s 2024 Statewide Award for Excellence in Dual Credit Instruction, as the top teacher in the state.

Last month, three MCAS science teachers attended the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Inc. (HASTI) conference in Indianapolis. Science teachers Joyce Murphy, Kevin Jones, and Charles Krueger attended workshops and breakout sessions to learn new ways to improve student learning. Krueger teacher Kevin Jones presented on his research project and gave away lesson materials he developed. The lesson has students using Augmented Reality (AR) while learning Taxonomy to increase student engagement. There were teachers from all over the state who attended and said they were excited to use the lesson materials in their classrooms!

Congratulations to MCHS Boys Basketball Coach Tom Wells, who notched 400 career wins after the Wolves defeated Bowman Academy on February 6th. Tom has been a varsity coach for 35 years; he was head coach at La Porte High School for 15 years before moving on coach at City in 2019. The players celebrated after the game by dousing him with water from their water bottles on the court, and he received a basketball with the phrase "400 wins" on it. Way to go, Coach!

Michigan City High School is proud to host the IHSAA Regional and Semi State tournaments for boys basketball this month. Regionals will take place on Saturday, March 9, and Semi State on Saturday, March 16th. Tickets for all of the games will be electronic, and they will be available at www.ihsaa.org or eventlink.com. Tickets for the Regionals (4:00 and 7:00 games) will be available after the conclusion of Sectionals. Tickets for Semi-State (10:00am, 12:00 noon, and 7:30pm games) will be available after the conclusion of Regionals. Semi-state entertainment will be provided by DJ Hot Rod of WGCI 107.5 FM Chicago. Halftime entertainment for the noon game will be provided by the Michigan City Soul Steppers.

Important note: Saturday, March 16 is also the Laporte County Master Gardeners annual Garden Show at MCHS. All traffic will enter the high school via the West drive, and signs will direct people coming to the garden show to park in front. Overflow parking with a shuttle service will also be available -- details TBA soon!

Michigan City Boys Basketball Michigan City faces South Bend Riley tonight in the sectional semifinals. GO WOLVES!

Two Krueger Middle School alumni who have made significant contributions to athletics in Michigan City will be honored on Wednesday, March 6, at 5:30pm in the Krueger gymnasium during halftime of the Krueger girls basketball game. The honorees are Kevin Harmon and Donnie Walker. Introductions will be made by Mr. Ryan Labis and recognition plaques will be given to Kevin and Donnie for their service to the community. Refreshments will be served following the recognition event. All are welcome!

The Dunes Summer Theatre program is holding musical theatre classes for ages 8-18 this summer (July 9-25). Led by dunesARTS Education Coordinator Michael Fallon and professional actors, students will develop their performative, creative, and collaborative skills as they work on solos, dramatic scenes, and group ensembles, towards a finale showcase production. Whether it's acting, singing, dancing, or all 3, students will be able to participate at a level tailored to their strengths and interests.

Details:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1-3pm (July 9-25)
• Concludes with a showcase production on Saturday, July 27 at 11am
• 1 enrollee - $225, 2 or more enrollees - $200 ea
• Scholarships are available for MCAS students to attend at reduced or no cost!

For more info and an application visit: https://www.dunesarts.org/education

Reminders from The Girl Coalition (a program of the Girl Scouts):

1. In an effort to reach more girls of all ages (K-12) in underserved areas, the Girl Coalition is offering a stipend of $1,500 for any MCAS staff member interested in piloting a troop of a minimum 6 girls. This is a 12-week commitment. Complete this form if you are interested in participating in this pilot.

2. The Girl Coalition of Indiana is offering grants of up to $1,000 for projects that reach and empower girls. These could be service projects led by or involving girls, social events for girls, field trips for girls, etc. If you are interested in applying for a grant, please visit girlcoalitionindiana.org for more information.

Questons? Need additional information? Contact Shantae Wofford: at swofford@girlcoalitionindiana.org

Student innovators and entrepreneurs, the Center for Creative Solutions wants you! For the seventh year, area students will be honored for their innovative products and projects during World Creativity & Innovation Week, April 15-21, 2024.

The honors will go to K-12 students working alone or in teams. Their project, product or process need not be perfected, but must demonstrate a reasonable level of creativity and/or innovation. It may be in any area of interest, such as technology, the arts, trades/professions, writing, science, business, cooking, designing, to name a few. (Pictured here is Barker student Kody Gearing, who won an award last year!)

The one-page application may be submitted by a student, teacher, or anyone from Northwest Indiana. The application covers three areas of inquiry:

1. What was the inspiration for the project/product? Why did the student begin it?

2. What was the creative process? How did the nominee begin the process? What steps did the student take? Did anything surprise the student? Were there any problems that had to be overcome? How did the nominee deal with those challenges?

3. What is the end result?

The application deadline is March 18, 2024. Winners will receive public recognition and a monetary award, funded through the Morgan Family Foundation.

Nomination forms may be found and submitted on the website, CenterforCreativeSolutions.com. Questions? Email creativity52@comcast.net

The Center for Creative Solutions invites Northwest Indiana poets of all ages are to share their work in the 8th Annual “Juried Showcase of Poetry.” For students, there will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors in each grade level. For adults, poems submitted will be judged separately. Winning student poets will read their creations at a special “Afternoon of Poetry” on Sunday, April 28th. Top poems will also be published in major publications throughout northwest Indiana, including The Beacher.

As part of this year’s Poetry Showcase, there is the creation of the La Porte County Poet Laureate and Junior Poet Laureate Programs. This program funding comes from a Unity Foundation trust set up by the family of Barbara Friedman. A cash prize will be awarded to one student and one adult poet from LaPorte County. They will also enjoy opportunities to read their work to the community throughout the year.

Details and a link to enter poetry are here: https://www.centerforcreativesolutions.com/poetry-showcase. The deadline is March 28th. Questions? Contact Bill Halliar at William.halliar@gmail.com or 219-629-5853.

The high school music department is currently selling their SUPER SAVING CARDS. For $10 the purchaser receives discounts at many local restaurants and stores throughout Michigan City and LaPorte for an entire year. Please see a member of the MCHS choir or band department to purchase your card. If you have any questions, you can contact Michelle Howisen (High School Choir Director) at (219)873-2044 x4401.

Have you ever wanted your very own MC Wolves Esports merch? Well, now you can buy some from

https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/yPWBjHYn5D. Thank you for supporting MC Wolves Esports!

Mental Health Considerations in a Multi-Generational Workforce
&

Exercise and Mental Health

Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4452394708871193941

Can’t make the live webinar? Register now and the system will send you a recording link 24 hours after the webinar concludes.

Mental Health Considerations in a Multi-Generational Workforce: We have 5 different generations currently in the workforce: The traditionalists, The Boomers, Gex X, Millennials, and Gen Z, all of whom were raised in different times and with different expectations regarding their mental health. Today will discuss those expectations and ways in which we can create a workplace culture that supports improved mental well-being across the generations.

Exercise and Mental Health: Statistics show that mental health is a significant concern for many adults and children across the country. Exercise has proven benefits that can be seen immediately after a workout, and these benefits compound as an a person continues to be active. From psychological changes to physical changes, exercise impacts every part of a person. Let’s start the conversation about how exercise can improve your mental health and how to get started.

Exciting news! The Dunes Arts Foundation is providing 2 FREE TICKETS to each of its Summer 2024 season shows to any MCAS employee. (This season's lineup is featured below.) To claim your free tickets (limit: 2 free tickets per show) visit https://www.dunesarts.org/tickets and enter code MCAS when checking out in your cart. For more info call Alex Front at the DAF: 219-879-7509 or email dunestheatre@gmail.com

Need some advice on budgeting, how to handle debt, and other financial basics? Primerica representatives RiEisha Hart and Aundre Hogue will be leading a free Zoom webinar just for MCAS staff members (and families) to help you out!

"How Money Works" Workshop

March 13 and March 27

6:30-7:15pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142628154?pwd=N21sWktiQStTSGkzZytDMWE3ekFpUT09&omn=85731377327

Meeting ID: 814 262 8154

Passcode: 85316

This month, Tickets at Work is celebrating "Employee Appreciation Month" and is offering extra discounts on deals for rental cars, movie tickets, travel, and much more. Use promo code 123Appreciation for extra savings all month long. (This code may not be used for gift cards or combined with other offers.) If you haven’t signed up for Tickets at Work yet, click become a member and enter our company code: MCAS

Tickets at Work also has a new loyalty program, FunLife Rewards. Find out more on how you can earn points on eligible purchases and redeem those points on future fun with FunLife Rewards.

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts (101 W. 2nd Street) is now featuring a new exhibit called "Stitched, Woven and Hooked." An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 1 from 6-8pm, and a Curator Talk with an ASL Interpreter will take place on Saturday, March 16, at 11:30a.m. Admission to the Lubeznik Center is always free! Check out the LCA website for information about this amazing exhibit of fiber arts.