fruita monument · semi-finalist for the boettcher scholarship competition. only 300 of the 1,400...

Fruita Monument High School | (970) 254-6600 | 1102 Wildcat Ave, Fruita, CO 81521 | fmhs.mesa.k12.co.us 1

Fruita Monument High School

Todd McClaskey, Principal | Brian Pendleton, AP | Bob Corneille, AP | Nikki Johnston, AP | Denny Squibb, Athletic Director

Table of Contents Important Dates Letter from the Principal Page 1 & 2 FMHS Yearbook Page 2 & 3 Music Notes Page 3

Techstars in Telluride Page 3 Choir Updates Page 4 Athletics and Activities Page 5 Testing Dates Page 6

Important Dates Letter from Principal Todd McClaskey Greetings Wildcat fans, parents and supporters!

FMHS - Cultivating Innovation, Achievement and Passion through a Learner Centered Environment

With the second semester well under way, we want to thank everyone for their con-

tinued support of our students, teachers, and school as we collectively strive to provide

optimal opportunities for learning each and every day. In addition, we want to welcome

our new families to Fruita Monument and trust that you will find yourselves part of an

outstanding and supportive learning community.

Congratulations! I would like to congratulate Brielle Thomas on being selected as a

semi-finalist for the Boettcher Scholarship competition. Only 300 of the 1,400 appli-

cants state-wide make it this far. Statistically, a school our size should earn a Boettcher

Scholarship about once every 7 to 8 years. We have far exceeded that expectation and

traditionally have finalists on a yearly basis. It is an amazing accomplishment in the past

to have had three in one year. The Boettcher Scholarship is the most prestigious merit-

based scholarship available to graduating high school seniors in the state of Colorado.

Begun in 1952, by Claude Boettcher, the Boettcher Scholarship was initially modeled

after the Rhodes Scholarship Program. The purpose of the Boettcher Scholarship is to

attract Colorado’s best and brightest to attend colleges within the state. The Boettcher

Scholarship covers the cost of a Scholar’s tuition, fees, and books for eight semesters at

any of Colorado’s four-year universities or colleges (can be in excess of $160,000 de-

pending upon a number of factors). Best wishes to Brielle! We are all so proud of your

hard work, dedication and amazing accomplishments!

Mandated State Testing for 2018 - sophomores will take the PSAT (practice SAT).

Eleventh graders will take the SAT and CMAS Science exams this April (see testing

schedule on the following pages).

In 2015 a selection committee in the State Legislature found the PSAT and SAT to

be better aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards, a requirement of the 2015 legis-

lation. The committee also found that College Board provides the most test preparation

support and resources to students.

As Colorado is in its second year of the transition from ACT to SAT for juniors, it’s

important for parents and students to know that the SAT is an approved, recognized

assessment option in the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s Admissions

Standards Policy and a well-established, recognized credential presented by students

(Continued on next page)

February 2018

D51 White Iced Ball

February 3 21 & 22

7-10:30pm—CMU Ballroom

Parent Teacher Conferences

February 8, 3:30-7:30pm

North Gym

No School—President’s Day

February 19

No School—Teacher workday

March 9

No School—Spring Break

March 12-16


Principal’s Letter (cont’d)

from around the world to colleges and universities throughout the country. Also, all public colleges and universi-

ties in Colorado will continue to accept both the ACT and SAT for admission and scholarship consideration

purposes.

We will continue to update you on our plan for administering both the PSAT for 10th graders and the SAT exam

for 11th graders in the near future.

Respectfully,

Todd McClaskey, Principal

IT’S GREAT TO BE A FRUITA MONUMENT WILDCAT!

http://www.essentialsinlearning.com/


Music Notes

Color guard: The Marching Band is seeking students who are interested in performing with the Wild-

cat Marching Band as part of the color guard. If you are interested or have experience in dance, this

would be a great avenue for you. The color guard is a visual representation of music and is truly a unique visual art form. All are welcome to join.

Attention all 9th-11th grade band students and parents: Auditions for the 2017-2018 Jazz I and Wind

Ensemble will be held at the end of April and beginning of May. If your son or daughter is interested in auditioning for one of these groups, they need to visit the band webpage (below) to get their audition ma-

terials. Dates will also be posted on the website. Jazz I and Wind Ensemble are the two ensembles that students need to audition for to be a part of. Jazz I meets zero hour (after school) to avoid scheduling

conflicts and Wind Ensemble meets during the regular school day. Both ensembles play demanding mu-sic and require each member to represent their part by themselves (one per part). If your son or daughter

is not interested in either of these, not to worry, the Symphonic Band and Jazz II are open to anyone and are great ensembles! There are over 70 students in the symphonic band; it truly is a great sound! Thank you to everyone who supported the music department fundraiser with Butter Braids! Your support is tru-

ly appreciated!

SILENT AUCTION/ALL YOU CAN EAT CHILI DINNER will be Wednesday, March 7th in the

FMHS North gym. Come check out a wide variety of gift baskets, flights, art and silent auction items. All you can eat chili, baked potatoes, hot dogs for $5/person. All proceeds go to FMHS Music depart-

ment. Performances by the Jazz Band, Orchestra and Choirs.

Four students from Fruita Monument High School and Fruita 8/9 participated in the Techstars Startup weekend (https://startupweekend.org/) in Telluride, CO Jan 19-21. They joined three Career

Center students. Startup weekends are a global phenomenon where entrepreneurial-minded people come together for

an intensive 54 hour weekend to pitch a business idea, form teams and work on the details transforming this idea into a viable business. Groups cover everything from market research, product development,

sales forecasting, marketing and more. At the end of the weekend, groups present their idea to a panel of judges in a Shark Tank-like format.

D51 students formed two groups around two different business ideas and worked all weekend to

bring their ideas to reality. Our group was recognized as “Best potential entrepreneurs” at the awards ceremony.

The group is pictured from left to right: Nathaniel Doty (Career Center), Wende Gist (Computer Sci-

ence teacher Career Center), Edward Dolly (Career Center), Nathaniel Simon (Career Center), Cam Wyatt (Principal Career Center), Caleb Nicolas

(FMHS Junior), Jayden McMurray (FMHS Junior), Kyrah Carville (F 8/9 Freshman), Malia Recker (F

8/9 Freshman), Kathaleen Recker (FMHS Business Teacher)

Techstars Startup Weekend in Telluride

https://startupweekend.org/


Sign up for choir next year!!! Auditions for advanced choirs are Feb. 26 & 27 in the choir room. If you don’t want to audition, join men’s or women’s choir! Sign up with your counselor for next school year.

Reasons to Join Choir

Social activities – retreats, bonfires, game nights, campouts, pumpkin carving party, dinner/movie nights, bowling, Thanksgiving Dinner, etc… are just some of the fun things we plan!

Choir council – your opportunity to be a student leader and make your voice heard.

Students in music are proven again and again to have better grades and a higher IQ than students who do not participate in music.

Out of town competitions!

Possible out of state trips in the future (like New York and California)

Honors choir opportunities

Solo & ensemble

Audition to sing the National Anthem at sporting events

Talk to your counselor to sign up today!

Choir Auditions

CHOIR AUDITIONS

Auditions for next year’s advanced choirs will be held after school Monday and Tuesday, February 26 and 27, in the high

school choir room. All you have to do is show up.

To audition, you will sing the National Anthem without accompaniment and sight read a line of music to the best of your abil-

ity.

Students already in choir will be able to audition during choir class.

Advanced choirs include:

Show Choir (Mountain Melodies) – you are required to be in at least one other choir along with this group. You do not have

to sight read if this is the only advanced choir for which you are auditioning.

Las Cantantes – advanced women’s choir.

Monumental Singers – the top performing choir at FMHS for men and women.

If you don’t want to audition for choir, we also have beginning Men’s and Women’s choirs, which do not require an audi-

tion. All you have to do is register for the class! Get a bunch of friends and join.

Choir is a wonderful experience for anyone who enjoys singing. If you think you can’t sing, it’s

ok! Come and learn the basics. You never know where your talent lies.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations to Kailey Behunin, Carliana Hatch, Garret Hinton and Reilly Breckheimer for auditioning and being

chosen for All-State Choir this year! They will be going to Denver February 1-3 to perform with other choir students from

across the state. This is a huge accomplishment!

Congratulations as well to Stephen Forster, Kailey Behunin, Autum Erekson, Garret Hinton, Katherine Seaton and Carliana

Hatch for auditioning and being chosen to participate in the Western Slope Honors Choir in Gunnison, which takes place

March 1-3.

Choir Audition and Congratulations


Athletics and Activities

February is a busy month with Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day, President’s Day and, Super Bowl Sun-day just for starters. It is also the end of the Winter Sports Season, and the beginning of the Spring

Sports Season.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Girls Basketball is having an outstanding season and the RPI rating has FMHS ranked # 1 in the State.

• Swimming and Dive have qualified several athletes for State and as that gets closer we will be sure to recognize them.

• Pink Night for Cancer Survivors will be February 6.

• On February 16, 2018 during halftime of the Girls Basketball Game vs Grand Junction the 2nd In-

duction of the Wildcat Hall of Fame will be held. This year’s inductees are also the 1966 State Champi-on Football Team. Omar Burnheide, Kathy Daniels (Holthus), Richard Johnson, Nick Kohls, Dallas Meyer, Bill Sillman,

• State Swimming February 8,9, & 10 in Fort Collins

• State Wrestling February 15,16,& 17 in Denver at the Pepsi Center

• State Basketball Playoffs First Round February 20 for girls, boys February 21. second round girls will be 2/23 and boys 2/24.

SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION:

• Go to fmhsathletics.com

• On the menu “more”

• Click on “ATHLETIC REGISTRATION”

“FAMILY ID”

FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE: FEBRUARY 26 (ONLY ATHLETES THAT HAVE COMPLETED

REGISTRATION BY FEBRUARY 24 CAN PRACTICE).

WHAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED:

1. Register with Family ID

2. Physical that is current and turned into the Athletic Office

Athletic Fee Paid

ENJOY THE FINISH OF THE WINTER SEASON AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE START OF THE

SPRING SEASON.

“TOGETHER WE CAN”

Denny Squibb Athletic Director

http://www.collegeeducationconsulting.com/

fruita monument · semi-finalist for the boettcher scholarship competition. only 300 of the 1,400...

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