The Merrillville Advantage M e r r i l l v i l l e H i g h S c h o o l / “ W e S t r i v e f o r E x c e l l e n c e ”

P A R E N T E - N E W S L E T T E R

The French Club Christmas Party was Monday, December 14 after school. Club members wrapped gifts for the student from the Christmas Wish List. We exchanged gifts. We listened to French Christmas carols and enjoyed some French goodies. We had the traditional Bûche de Noël cake (the log cake which resembles a log that represents the season of winter).

J a n u a r y V o l u m e 1 9 2 0 1 6

www.mvsc.k12.in.us/mhs/

Last week, MHS Football players took part in an afternoon of mentoring by visiting all of the Merrillville elementary schools. Mrs. Tyson of Fieler Elementary had this to say: “Brayden Stubbs #25 was absolutely amazing! He engaged the students by talking about himself and allowing them to ask questions. He read a Christmas story to the class, then spoke about his 3-2-1 sheet. The students loved hearing about him and how he's working to be a better person. Once he was finished, he let ALL the students share their 3-2-1 sheets with him! Brayden also attended indoor recess with my class where he raced each one of them. He even posed for pictures with the class. During lunch he made sure to go to each table, and talked with the kids. I think he might have answered over a hundred questions! This young man should be applauded! He was very patient and friendly! My class won't stop talking about how much they enjoyed him! This was one of the best visits we've had this year!!” (See more pics… p. 9)

P A R E N T T E A C H E R C O N F E R E N C E S !

MAIN CAFÉ & MEDIA CENTER

Entrance F

“Get Involved in Your Child’s Everyday School Life”

What is in Parent Access ? • Enrollment information • Grades – past and present • Attendance- past and present • Discipline- past and present • Student schedule – past and present • District-wide assessment data- past and present • …and much more!

Before creating an account in Parent Access Online you will need to have received an activation code letter from your child’s school. If you have not received this letter please contact the office of your student’s school. If you have multiple students in different schools throughout the district you will need to have an activation code for each student. Log on today at: mvsc.k12.in.us/parentaccess

MHS Choral Teens performed with Kenny Rogers and Linda Davis over the Thanksgiving weekend at the Star Plaza Theatre. The featured performance of “Have You Seen the Baby?” was received with a standing ovation. In total, the team sang four selections with Kenny and ana capella selection of their own. Including this performance, the MHS Choral Department entertained about 6,000 this holiday season. Thank you to the Choralteens and Mrs. Reinhart for leading such an incredible group of talented young people and touching so many hearts throughout our community. You are all truly part of what makes up the Merrillville Advantage.

Sports (21) Facilities Baseball – JV, Varsity Baseball Fields - 2 B. Basketball – 9, JV, Varsity Main Gymnasium – Seats 3,500 G. Basketball – JV, Varsity Football Stadium – Seats 7,000 Cheerleading – Varsity Gymnastics Gym – Seats 500 B. Cross Country – Varsity Soccer/Track Stadium – Seats 1,000 G. Cross Country – Varsity Lap Pool – 6 Lanes 3’6” Deep Football – 9, JV, Varsity Competition Pool – 7 Lanes B. Golf – Varsity Fieldhouse – 6 Lane Track G. Golf – Varsity 3 Basketball Courts, 3 Tennis Courts Gymnastics – Varsity Wrestling Room – 4 Mats B. Soccer – JV, Varsity Fitness Center G. Soccer – JV, Varsity Aerobics Room Softball – JV, Varsity 5 Concession Stands B. Swim – JV, Varsity Racquet Ball Courts - 4 G. Swim – JV, Varsity Indoor Golf Range - 1 B. Tennis – JV, Varsity 15 Indoor Locker Rooms G. Tennis – JV, Varsity 4 Outdoor Locker Rooms B. Track – Varsity G. Track – Varsity Wrestling – 9, JV, Varsity Volleyball – JV, Varsity

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – 5 Total Teams – 37 Football – 1976 Number of Coaches - 64 Gymnastics - 1986, 1992 Number of Athletes - 640 Softball – 1993, 1997 Athletic Directors - 2

It was a proud day for Merrillville High School and our wrestling program in December as two seniors, Jake Covaciu (Wisconsin) and Shawn Streck (Purdue) signed letters of intent. Both of these young men were STATE CHAMPIONS last year. Jacob will continue his wrestling career at Wisconsin while Sean will wrestle and play football for Purdue. Sean says a goal of his is to be a two-sport All American. Athletic Director Janis Qualizza shared her excitement, “In my 38 years this is the first time we have had two wrestlers of this caliber sign big time scholarships in the same year!” Kudos to Coach Dave Maldonado, for coaching them up!! GO PIRATES!!

Seniors Selena Drake and Ashley Ojo display a few of the 370 items collected by members of STAND and Freshman Mentors for this year’s food drive.

Thanks to the 18 participants who came out the night of November 12 to support the MHS PBIS Program! Thanks to your support, $180 was raised to fund positive initiatives at MHS! Stay tuned for additional events in 2016!

student clubs and organizations AFJROTC Contact Major Ramey or Sr. Master Sgt. Wrasman for more details.

Academic Decathlon Team

The students receive study material which covers 10 academic events. Each season has a different topic. Practices consist of reading and studying material together. Students will be expected to prepare at home as well for the competition. During competitions, students will compete against other schools within their GPA range on a paper and pencil test.

Mock Trial Teams of 6-8 students research and role play case trials in front of a real judge in a real courtroom using correct courtroom protocol and legal procedures in competition with other high schools

Academic Quiz Bowl

Quiz Bowl is a game of trivia in the style of Jeopardy. Questions are random and there is nothing to study. EN USE BUZZERS!

Academic Superbowl Team

Are you really good at Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Art/Music, or all of these subjects? The Super Bowl team may be for you. The competition is made up of five subject matter rounds and a sixth interdisciplinary. Each subject area will consist of teams of five students (seven in interdisciplinary) that will work together to answer multiple choice questions. Contact Mr. Unterfranz or Mrs. Monix for more details.

Art Club Do you like to draw, paint, or just be creative? The Art Club is open to any student and is the perfect opportunity for you to show your creative side! Students will learn how to create artwork and designs for various events, contests, college portfolio, and personal interest. The meetings are held weekly from 3pm.-4:30pm.(unless announced)in room FA206.Contact Mrs. Anderson for more details

Chess Club Join the chess club to learn how to play chess, to enjoy friendly games, and have a chance to compete against students from all over the state. Learning chess is fun and it is something that you can enjoy your whole life! Start preparing now. Contact Mr. Meagher for more details.

ENL Club If you are a student who has a background in two or more languages and has, at some time in your schooling, been a part of an ESL, ENL, or bilingual language program, you are invited to be a part of the MHS ENL Club. Contact Ms. Czuba for more details.

Environment Club

The environmental club is a student led club with a focus on community service from an environmental point of view. Activities include but are not limited to learning about what going green is all about, participating in the recycling of plastics, paper, cardboard and cans at MHS, working in the outdoor lab and prairie grassland restoration project. The club will meet on the 2nd and 4thWednesday of the month. A recycling schedule will then be set up.

FCCLA Family, Career & Community Leaders of America. FCCLA is a student-led organization that is affiliated at the district, state, and national level. Our focus is on community service, leadership development, and state & national competition. FCCLA sponsors the December & the Spring blood drives, and the Inclusion Dance for seven high schools. Contact Ms. Von Behren for additional information.

French Club French Club is a club that highlights the French-speaking world’s customs and traditions. We try to meet once a month after school, usually the first Wednesday or Thursday after school in room C107. We enjoy trying French foods, seeing French videos and getting together with the Spanish Club and German Club.

GSA The Gay-Straight Alliance is an LGBTQ racial and gender justice organization that empowers youth leaders to advocate a movement for safer and healthier school. GSA promotes activities and events that advocate for the protection of youth from harassment and violence, and broader issues of oppression.

Jazz Band Club Jazz Band Club is open to any Merrillville High School student interested in jazz. Students will be provided materials that they will use in their performances, discussions, and critiques. Students will learn the different forms of Jazz, and they will also learn how to perform simple improvisations on their instrument. It’s OK if you don’t know how to read music. If you want to learn more about Jazz, then we want YOU! Jazz Band Club meets every Wednesday after school in room FAC-104.

J.E.T.S. TSA TEAMS (formerly JETS TEAMS) will practice on Mondays in January and February for the REGIONAL. STATE, and NATIONAL examination competitions all held Tuesday March 3rd 2015 @ Purdue Calumet. See Mr. Curme for more information

Key Club Key Club is a student-led organization with a focus on community service. Club projects include bingo at a nursing home, visits to a soup kitchen, a chili cook-off for lupus, reading to children, and raising funds for various charities. KC will meet the 1 and 3rd Thursdays of the month at 3 PM in A108 Key Club Web Site

National Honor Society

Each year, Honor Society chapters throughout the country collectively dedicate countless hours to school and community service projects, as well as fundraisers for local, national, and international charities. Juniors who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher are invited to become a part of Merrillville High School’s chapter and continue as a member throughout their senior year until they induct the next group of honor society members. Contact Mrs. Sickinger or Mrs. Flores for more details

Newspaper: The Mirror

Members provide news about the community to MHS students and families, staff reporters interview sources, write and edit their own news stories, and prepare layouts for the newspaper that is printed and delivered to students in their first hour classes. This publication is a member of Quill & Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association, which awarded the 2011-12 staff with a first class rating and a mark of distinction for writing. See Mrs. Procter for more information.

Permanent Ink/ Poetry Club

Permanent Ink, Merrillville’s poetry slam team, focuses on performance poetry. Students get to tell their stories publicly in a variety of formats, including slam poetry competitions, open mics, and shows at school and around the area. Participate in the Louder than a Bomb Youth Poetry festival in Chicago, the Hotter than a Steel Mill regional poetry festival here at MHS, and a variety of spoken word and slam poetry shows in northwest Indiana and the wider Chicagoland region. Contact Mr. Hossler for more details.

student clubs and organizations Pom-Pons The Merrillville High School Dance/Poms Team, which is under the direction of sponsors Latoya Tyson and

Celia Pollard, is a spirit team which supports our boy’s football and basketball teams. The squad performs dance routines at every home football and basketball game. They practice at least 3 days per week throughout the school year and during the summer. Members are chosen based on their dancing ability as well as academic success and school and community citizenship. The team commits to several community service projects every school year including the Key Club Carnival and Community Trick or Treating. If you love to dance and you aren’t afraid of working hard, please try out for the Merrillville High School Dance/Poms Team. Tryouts take place in March. Dates and times are published in the student announcements well in advance.

Quill and Scroll Quill & Scroll is the international honor society for high school journalists. Merrillville High School established a chapter in 1961, and that chapter remains active today with 14 members involved in the publication of the student newspaper and yearbook. When a candidate is recommended for membership, he or she pays a one-time initiation fee. The Society then provides the initiate with an official membership pin, membership certificate, and a one-year subscription to Quill & Scroll magazine. Contact Mrs. Procter for more details.

SADD SADD is a student-led group that promotes making positive decisions in life. Many teen issues will be promoted during the school year. SADD is in charge of Red Ribbon week and the candle walk. New ideas are welcome. SADD will meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 3 PM in A108

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad will be busy in January with the Valparaiso University Invitational on January 10, the Northridge Invitational in Middlebury on January 17, and Regional @ Purdue Calumet Jan. 31. Last year, the Team made the Wild Card Tournament at Ball State. This year that tournament will be March 7, with State Finals (our goal) on March 21. Practices are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Room E 210. Call out dates have passed, but if you are a 9th , 10th, or 11th grader, you can still join. See Coach Curme or Coach Schlinger ASAP. See Mr. Curme for more information

Spanish Club Meets once a month after school and the meetings are held in classroom-9G200. We try to celebrate major events from Spanish speaking countries.

Spell Bowl Team Spell bowl begins at the beginning of the school year. Students learn to spell words and compete with other schools. A 15 page list of words is given to study/practice. During meets, each student has to spell 9 words and the total is their team points.

Society of Student Authors

Society of Student Authors fosters the creative writing of Merrillville’s students who are interested in poetry, fiction, and other genres of writing. Each Trimester, the club hosts an open mic night and, at the end of the year, attends at writing conference with published authors. The club meets bi-weekly on Mondays. Contact Mrs. Sickinger for more details.

STAND S.T.A.N.D. (Socially Together and Naturally Diverse is a student-led club that promotes an appreciation for diversity through community service. The club provides its members with the opportunity to earn community service hours through mentoring opportunities, participating in student exchanges with other schools, creating programs that address discrimination and other injustices, and educating and celebrating the rich cultural diversity that exists in our community.

Student Government

Student Government is a student led club that does, Homecoming, provide various fundraisers throughout the year, and go to leadership conferences and seminars. It helps promote student responsibility, leadership skills, and school pride for our students. We meet every Wednesday in the arena.

Thespian Troupe The Thespian Troupe is dedicated to the performance, design, production and advocacy of Theatre. The Thespians are an organization of Actors & Performers, Technicians & Designers, Artists and Promoters who are focused on creating enlightening and entertaining works of Theatre. The Thespians also use their skills to perform acts of Community Service in order to improve the lives of people within our community. Meetings are held on Mondays at 3pm in the Small Theatre. Visit our website atmhsthespians.org for more information.

Voices of Reason

Inspirational singing and mentoring group.

WMHS Production Club

Photograph, film events, edit, perform, act, write! From behind the scenes to in front of the green screen, PNN is our life. Contact Mr. Past for more information

Yearbook Yearbook staff members meet daily in class and work throughout the school year to produce Merrillvue, the yearbook of Merrillville High School. To chronicle the year, student staff members are responsible for organizing coverage and writing stories, taking pictures at school events, and designing the pages that comprise the 200-page book. Students also sell advertising to local merchants. The book is printed during the summer and is available for distribution in late August. See Mrs. Procter for more information.

Y.E.S. Interact is a service club for youth ages 12 to 18 and is part of Rotary International, the world’s first service club organization. The Rotary Club is a world-wide organization held together by business people that serve their district and planet Earth. Y.E.S! (Youth Enriched by Service) Interact is an extension of them and is founded on Rotarian principles. Y.E.S. Interact Club promotes making new friends, building positive relationships, building leadership skills and building self-esteem. Y.E.S. Interact club sponsors a minimum of two community service projects annually. club meets bi-weekly on designated Tuesdays from 3:00 – 3:45. The mission of Y.E.S! Interact is that we strive to better ourselves and others locally, nationally, and globally through works that exemplify “service above self” and preserve hope. See Mrs. Maldonado or Ms. Jordan in Guidance for more information.

The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. All educators at Merrillville High School were encouraged to organize an Hour of Code event during the week of December 7 – 13, Computer Science Education Week. The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics of computer programming. The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, a public 501c3 non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. A coalition of partners have come together to support the Hour of Code,— including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the College Board. Ms. Austin, Freshman Center Biology Teacher, decided to take on the challenge. Austin had been exposed to scaleable game design (programming) at Purdue University Calumet over the past two summers. In the 2015 session, educators were introduced to “Spheros”, robotic balls that are programmed to move on command via iPADS. Diana Underwood, Purdue University Calumet Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, provided MHS students with Spheros for the day, and the MVSC IT Dept’s Mr. Kerr, provided the iPADS for student use during this Hour of Code activity. Ms. Austin’s Biology 1B students had just completed a Mitosis Lab in which students were required to calculate percentages of time onion cells spent in each phase of mitosis. By using the Sphero lesson, students were able to enhance their understanding of calculating percentages, while they programmed the Spheros to reach specific distances while changing the speed of the robot, in milliseconds.

P i r a t e P o l i c i e s S t u d e n t D r i v e r s , S c h o o l C l o s i n g s & A t t e n d a n c e

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

STUDENT DRIVING PRIVILEGES AND DRIVING PERMITS All licensed students have the privilege to drive to school and park in the student parking lot at Merrillville High School. This privilege has many responsibilities. Parents and students need to be aware of the driving rules and regulations at Merrillville High School, which are outlined in the student handbook (Pirate Planner). Our driving rules have changed a bit this year and it is imperative that the following procedures are followed or a “MHS Parking Permit” will not be issued. First and foremost, parking permits for the 2011-2012 school year may be purchased during Re-Registration days (August 9 & 10 5:30-7:30 p.m.) All students who want to drive to school must consent to participate in the school’s random drug testing program and sign the consent form/driver’s agreement. The permit cost is $10.00. Please keep in mind that the administration at Merrillville High School has the right to revoke these driving privileges. It is also an Indiana State Law that any student who has been suspended from school two (2) times can have their Indiana Driver’s License suspended by the State of Indiana. SCHOOL CLOSINGS/DELAYS Weather conditions can delay the opening of school for one or two hours or can call for an all-day cancellation. With this in mind, we are asking parents to please plan for these types of emergencies. REMEMBER, IF SCHOOL IS DELAYED FOR ONE (1) HOUR, THE BUS WILL PICK STUDENTS UP ONE (1) HOUR LATER; FOR A TWO (2) HOUR DELAY, THE BUS WILL BE THERE TWO (2) HOURS LATER. It is the goal of our school corporation to transport students and have our students arrive and leave school under the safest conditions. Also, please keep in mind that if school is cancelled for a day, it will be made up at a later date. When severe weather hits Merrillville, there are a few ways to find out if our school is delayed or closed. 1. Early dismissals, late starts & school closings will also be reported on these local radio stations: WZVN-107 FM, WJOB-1230 AM, WAKE-1500 AM; Chicago radio stations: WGN-720 AM & WBBM-780 AM, & TV stations WYIN (Channel 56 or Cable 17), CBS (Channel 2); News Channel 5; ABC (Channel 7), WGN (Channel 9); FOX (Channel 32 or Cable 6), & CLTV News (Cable 31). 2. Visit web sites including: www.cancellations.com & www.emergencyclosings.com 3. Call the Emergency Closing Center to check the status of school closings at 1-900-407-SNOW (1-900-407-7669) and enter the school corporation’s main number, 219-650-5300, for the latest information. 4. This information will also be posted on the MHS homepage at: http://merrillville.schoolwires.net/msrhs/site/default.asp 5. Call MHS as a last resort as lines may be busy.

MERRILLVILLE’S ATTENDANCE POLICY PHILOSOPHY Regular attendance and promptness are essential to good performance in school. Absence from school is often the greatest single cause of poor performance and achievement. Since the learning process is a progressive activity, each day’s lesson is built upon those class activities which took place on previous days. Whenever a class is missed, for whatever reasons, that experience can never be completely made-up. Since responsibility is a learned behavior and regular school attendance patterns encourage the development of responsible patterns of behavior, each student attending Merrillville High School is expected to make every effort possible to be in school each day. The attendance policy is developed with the idea that if a student is not present in schools he/she is not learning. Merrillville High School attendance regulations are expressed to encourage attendance and to encourage an “on the job” attitude for students to follow and to maintain throughout life. Attendance is recorded per trimester.

In accordance with the Merrillville High School attendance philosophy, a student must be in attendance in each class for a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of each trimester in order to receive credit for a course or courses. (NOTE: ALL ABSENCES REGARDLESS OF REASON WILL COUNT TOWARDS THE TWENTY-FIVE (25) PERCENT MAXIMUM.)

STATE LAW

Following is the Indiana compulsory school attendance statute (IC 20-8.1-3-20) Parent to Produce Certificate of Child’s Incapacity on Demand: If a parent does not send his child to school because of the child’s illness or mental or physical incapacity, it is unlawful for the parent to fail or refuse to produce a certificate of the incapacity for an attendance officer within six (6) days after it is demanded. The certificate required under this section shall be signed by an Indiana physician or by an individual holding a license to practice osteopathy or chiropractic in this state or be a Christian Science practitioner who resides in Indiana and is listed in the Christian Science Journal.

ATTENDANCE POLICY Attendance will be designated as, exempt (excused) or non-exempt (unexcused).

After a student has accumulated his/her fifth absence, exempt (excused) and/or non-exempt (unexcused), from any class in a trimester, he/she will be notified that a sixth absence may result in a loss of credit. The student may continue in the class without credit (audit), withdraw to study hall, or may elect to go through the expulsion process. Student may elect to appeal this decision by going to the high school principal or designee. A student may be put on an attendance contract after the 4th absence.

CALLS FOR ABSENCES

Parents/guardians must call STUDENT SERVICES (650-5380) prior to the school day if a student is going to be absent, tardy, or leave school for an appointment. (If the parent explains on the student’s first day of absence that they will be gone for an extended period of time, long illness, etc., there is no need to call back every day.) Absences without a parent phone call will be considered truancies/unexcused. Calls can be received on a 24-hour automated voice system. Calls must be received within three days of the absence. More than five (5) days of absences is considered excessive, except in cases of extended illness or extremely unusual circumstances. Days of suspension for disciplinary reasons will not be counted toward the five (5) day total. After 5 parent phone calls, in order for an absence to be exempt it must meet the following criteria:

TRUANCY COURT According to compulsory attendance laws, more than 9 unexcused/nonexempt absences are considered excessive by the state of Indiana. Students who are found to be in violation of this law, along with a chronic history of excessive tardies may be referred to the Merrillville Town Truancy Court, the C.A.P.S. (Consistent Attendance Promotes Success) program. A citation will be sent to your home with a date to appear in court. A failure to appear could ultimately result in a bench warrant for you arrest, along with educational neglect charges being filed with the Lake County Prosecutor’s office. GUIDELINES FOR EXEMPT (excused) ABSENCES: THESE ABSENCES ARE LIMITED Prolonged Medical Conditions: An illness that results in long-term illness must be verified by a written doctor’s statement as to the length of the illness and necessary absence. In accordance with the Merrillville High School attendance philosophy, a student must be in attendance in each class for a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of each trimester in order to receive credit for the course or courses. (Note: ALL ABSENCES REGARDLESS OF REASON WILL COUNT TOWARDS THE TWENTY-FIVE (25) PERCENT MAXIMUM.) Students may appeal to his/her grade level administrator. 1. Student illness, ONLY with a doctor’s note or the first five (5) absences with a parent phone call; Physician’s statement (doctor’s note must be

presented to Student Services Office the day of return). If student fails to return without a doctor’s note, this absence will be considered an unexcused absence.

2. Death in the immediate family; 3. Required court appearance; 4. Medical/dental appointments that could not be scheduled outside the school day. (Students are expected to attend school except for the time of the

appointment). Students must bring verification of doctor’s appointment upon return. If student fails to bring verification upon his/her return, it will be considered an unexcused absence.

5. Religious holidays; (Request verification) 6. Other emergencies and unusual circumstances as approved by principal; 7. College visitation – seniors are allowed only two (2) per school year. The college must be beyond a 25 mile radius from the high school. A signed

statement on their letterhead, with your name and date visited, must be returned into the Attendance Office the next day. 8. Family Vacation – A Family Vacation form must be filed with the Student Services Office at least one week prior to the beginning of a vacation. We

strongly recommend that you make every effort to plan your vacations around the school calendar, and that you avoid removing your child the week prior and during the week of standardized testing and at the start of each trimester.

9. Military examinations (arrangements must be made in advance and appointments must be verified); 10. Working at the polls; 11. Serve as a page in the Indiana General Assembly; 12. National Guard duty; 13. Driver’s examination. NON-EXEMPT (unexcused) These are unlimited absences up to 25%. Student can make up work, but may not receive credit for work. 1. Out of class suspensions; 2. Out of school suspensions;

When a student is suspended from school, that student may make up work and receive credit for that work. All work completed during a suspension must be returned to the teacher the day the student returns to school. Students and parents may access course work online at merrillville.schoolwires.net by clicking on “Scope & Sequence”.

3. No phone call from parent (parent has 72 hours to call from time of absence). No exceptions. 4. Truancy from class/school. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class it will be considered a truancy. 5. Bus service is provided; if you choose other transportation and are late it will be considered unexcused. 6. Fifth (5th) absence with or without a parent phone call. (See Guidelines for Exempt (Excused) Absences for exceptions) HABITUAL TRUANCY AND/OR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES In accordance with Indiana State Law Section 18 IC 20-33-2-11. Any student who has accumulated ten (10) days of absences for one (1) school year, which are either truancies, unexcused absences and/or absences without parental phone calls, will be reported to the State of Indiana as a “habitually truant and/or unexcused absent student.” According to the state law, students who are identified as “habitually absent” and are reported to the State of Indiana and/or to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, will NOT be issued an operator’s license or a learner’s permit to drive a motor vehicle under IC 9-24 until the individual is at least eighteen (18) years of age. TRUANCIES Students truant from school will be assigned to after school detention or Friday Extension Program(s). The Principal or his designee will make this determination based upon the student’s record. Truancy occurs when a student fails to attend a class or classes without permission from the administration or the student’s parents/guardians and a valid reason. Truancy applies to students who remain in restrooms due to illness without reporting to a teacher, administrator, or nurse.

NOTE: Students who accrue two (2) tardies or one (1) truancy will no longer be eligible for perfect attendance recognition.

P i r a t e P o l i c i e s T r u a n c y & A t t e n d a n c e P o l i c y :

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Merrillville High School 276 E 68th Place Merrillville, IN 46410

Non Profit Orig. U.S. Postage

Paid Gary, IN

Permit No. 277

The Merrillville Advantage M e r r i l l v i l l e H i g h S c h o o l / “ W e S t r i v e f o r E x c e l l e n c e ”

P A R E N T E - N E W S L E T T E RJ A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6 E d i t i o n . V o l u m e 1 9

January February

4 RETURN FROM WINTER BREAK 6 ACT TEST

13 FINANCIAL AID NIGHT 6:30 11 INCLUSION DANCE

18 NO SCHOOL MLK DAY 12-15 NO SCHOOL PRES DAY

21 P/T CONFERENCES 3:30-6:30 23-24 FROSH SCHEDULING 6P

27 MARKET DAY 24 MARKET DAY

TO PARENT OR CURRENT RESIDENT

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BOOKSTORE CONTACT LINDA HALL FOR MORE

INFORMATION AT 650-7500

IF INTERESTED CONTACT DAVE HENRY, TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR AT 650-5364 OR VISIT THE MCSC WEBSITE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION