MCAS Communicator

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Congratulations to Diana Weiss, paraprofessional at MCHS, who was the lucky winner of a trip to Las Vegas in our United Way employee campaign contest! Also winning a prize were Judy Kovalcik (United Way swag bag) and Bruce Williams (dinner with Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins).

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to United Way of La Porte County during this campaign. These funds will help support MCAS initiatives and our students. #OneCityOnePack

This year our district-wide food drive collected more than 4.1 tons of food for The Salvation Army food pantry. Way to go, MCAS! Huge thanks to the MCHS Student Council for organizing this event.

Congrats to the students and staff of Knapp Elementary for defending their title and winning the food drive competition this year. Knapp Knights collected close to 7 pounds of food per student and will keep the traveling trophy. (Pine, Marsh, Coolspring, Krueger, MCHS, and Springfield all collected more than a pound per student!) In addition, our district collected more than 900 books through Operation Bookworm that were distributed to families by The Salvation Army. (Congrats to Coolspring, which collected the most books!)

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Hey MCAS Staff! Are you ready to PACK THE DEN?
Our boys and girls varsity basketball teams will be hosting a doubleheader against La Porte on Friday, January 20 and we want to Pack the Den with Wolves fans. The varsity girls' game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with varsity boys following at 7 p.m. in the Wolves Den. Remember, MCAS staff always gets in free to our athletic events! Be sure to wear your blue and gray, and remind your guests to wear Wolves Wear; there will be half-price admission for anyone wearing Wolves gear.

A "Heritage Night" will also take place throughout the night, shining the spotlight on past City basketball players from Elston, Rogers, and MCHS. Don't miss this!

Congratulations to Renee Hall, school counselor at Lake Hills Elementary, who received the Michigan City Education Award last month from the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Comcast. This annual community award recognizes educators or educational programs that have made a significant impact in our community over the last year. Way to go, Renee!

The Den Closet at MCHS is looking for hangers -- and also any gently used Wolves Clothes such as t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts , shorts etc. Please consider donating! Donations can be sent to Amy Wojo at MCHS (room A-109), Please spread the word to family and friends that may have some Wolves gear they no longer wear. There is also a need for new or gently used winter coats.
Don't forget, you can always shop the Den Closet wishlist at http://educateMC.net/wishlist.

The Feed the Children "Teacher Store" is a facility located in Elkhart that provides a variety of free classroom supplies and books for teachers from eligible districts, including MCAS.

New for 2023: The Teacher Store is open only on Thursdays, and they now require you to sign up in advance if you plan to shop there. CLICK HERE for more information and a link to sign up for a shopping date.

Please note that they are on EASTERN time - and also that they limit this opportunity to classroom teachers only. (NO administrators, support staff, or other certified staff). In addition, the teacher store is ONLY open on Thursdays this year.

Leadership LaPorte County offers grants of $50-$500 for community service projects led by students (grades 5-11). The deadline for applications is February 1.

Projects must be led by youth. A parent or teacher can assist, but the project must be student-driven. Once the grant request is submitted, the Leadership LaPorte County Youth team reviews it, then grant requesters meet with the team to do a presentation. Students do the presentation; an adult sponsor can be in the room to support. When a grant is approved, the funds are sent via check to the adult in charge or the organization. A post-project report is also required.

Click here to download a flyer about this opportunity!

Need CPR Certification? Here are two options to consider!

OPTION 1: Val Skwiat, Trainer/Safety Manager, MCAS Transportation Department has provided the following information:

• Go to elearning.heart.org and complete your $15 course.
• Send Val an email or call/text to schedule the "hands-on" portion.
• You will meet Val at your school or If you live nearby, she can come to your house.
• She will need a copy of your course completion certificate.
• She will send your CPR AED card; the cost is $15.
• vskwiat@mcas.k12.in.us - Cell: (219) 874-1716

OPTION 2: David Sanders, EMT Instructor at AK Smith, has provided this info about his company, Crash Course CPR:

• Go to IneedaCPRcard.com for information
• A simple CPR Card refresher class is $30. This is an all-inclusive class including an online quiz and skills test out.
• Takes approximately 1 hour to complete (also available through Zoom)
• Appointments available - Monday through Friday 10:00 am - Noon, plus after school and evening hours.
• Bring your friends: We have enough CPR equipment to provide individual or up to 40 students at a time.
  
• Payment can be made at the time of service or online at www.IneedaCPRcard.com
• Questions? Contact David Sanders (812) 821-0433

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CST

Register for this Event: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2327864456078834014

Anxiety: Anxiety is something that we will all experience at some point in our lives. Some experience it more intensely than others. Come learn how we can reframe anxiety to see how it can be useful for us even though it doesn’t feel good.

You CAN Workout Outdoors in the Winter: How to safely workout in the cold winter months in the Midwest.

It’s a new year and we know wellness is top of mind. Tickets at Work can help prepare you for a strong start to 2023 with savings to improve your physical, mental, financial, and social well-being. They've also got deals on electronics, home appliances, winter travel, and more. Visit ticketsatwork.com and enter our company code MCAS to use this free service.