“Pursuing Excellence One Student At A Time!”

ADMINISTRATIONMr. Corey Golla,

Principal

Ms. Suzy Thomas,Associate Principal for

students with last names, A-L

Mr. Bob Vitale,Associate Principal for

students with last names, M-Z

Mr. Ryan Anderson,Director of Athletics/Activities

ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANTSMary Zentgraf

Bobbi Von AstenKathy SandersEileen ProffittTammy StruppTina Kastory

MARCH 2016VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 4

www.sdmfschools.org262-255-8444

Mr. Corey Golla

...continues on next page

Principal’s CornerWhat is at Stake for MFHS on April 5thBy now you are all likely aware of the two referendum questions on the ballot April 5th. I am using this opportunity to share the details of how the two questions will impact our high school.

Operational FundingOur operating budget supports all programming. This includes both our curricular programs as well as our co-curricular athletic, academic, and activity programs. Our community takes pride in our comprehensive curricular offerings. Over the past several years we have developed academies to support students working

toward careers in specific fields like Health Care, Technology, and Business. Our Computer Science curriculum is among the very best in the area with 10 sections running each year. These skills have been identified as a national priority and we’re proud to be in the forefront. We are adding an additional course next year in this high need field. Our students have access to 24 Advanced Placement courses with two additional courses coming online in 2016-17.

In an earlier issue of this newsletter I shared new opportunities in co-curricular activities focusing on Computer Science, Robotics, and performance. We continue to offer the programs widely recognized in the area that have been integral to the fabric of our school. These programs have allowed us to bring our mission to life and truly personalize the educational experience for all students. The operational funding question is indeed a referendum on the depth of our programming combined with the maintenance of our class sizes. While high standards in both areas are a value in the community they do come with a cost. Should the community reject this question we will be forced to reconsider the depth of programming or expanding class sizes in the future.

The question relating to facilities will impact all buildings in the district. The primary focus on the high school will be the Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing facilities in our lower level. These areas were untouched in the last referendum. We have updated the curriculum in these fields and have been regularly adding pre-engineering coursework through our relationship with Project Lead the Way. These include Introduction to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Digital Electronics. Our lower level is presently

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Principal’s Corner continues...

Calendar Of EventsMarch 1, 2 ACT testing in school for current JuniorsMarch 2 Portal closes for registration for current 9th, 10th, 11th gradesMarch 15 Choir Festival 7:30 PM at MFHSMarch 10 No School – Teacher Work Day Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00 PMMarch 18 Graduation Cap/Gown Order Pick Up 9:00-10:15 AMMarch 22 Scholarship Application DeadlineMarch 25-April 3 Spring BreakApril 4 School ResumesApril 5 End of 3rd QuarterApril 21-24 Spring Musical Play “Legally Blonde”May 2-13 AP TestingMay 14 Junior PromMay 16 Achievement Awards Ceremony 6:00 PMMay 18 High School Freshman & Symphonic Bands 7:30 PM MFHSMay 20 Senior Holiday 6:30 PM Davian’sMay 25 Scholarship Night 7:00 PMMay 27 Built in Snow DayMay 30 No School – Memorial DayJune 1 Senior Athletic AwardsJune 2 High School Spring Choir Concert 7:30 PM MFHSJune 6-8 Final ExamsJune 8 Graduation Rehearsal 11:30 AMJune 11 Graduation Ceremony 4:00 PM Schumann Stadium (Gymnasium if inclement

weather)

Save the DateSPRING METALS RECYCLING DRIVESATURDAY June 4th 2016The Menomonee Falls School District in conjunction with the Band Bunch Booster organization will be holding their annual Spring Metals Recycling Drive at the High School Stadium parking lot on Saturday, June 4th from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

This is a great way to unload that scrap metal for free while helping to raise funds and support our school district’s bands, Orchestra and music program. What can be donated? Any old appliances, snow blowers, lawn mowers, grills, shelving, fire pits, fireplace sets, patio furniture, old siding stainless steel, brass, electrical wire, plumbing pipe, old window screens, old Christmas lights, bicycles, swing sets and much more. Just about anything goes. If nothing else, please simply save your aluminum cans for the event. Why pay a fee at the dump? Don’t just throw away at the curb.

This recycling event is free and open to the community so help spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. Thank you in advance for your support. Every little bit helps! If you have questions or need a place to drop off your treasures prior to June 4th, please contact Barb Nienow at 262 251-8968.

dated, with this renovation we would be developing a state-of-the-art facility that accurately reflects the dynamic work environment our students will encounter in these fields. The high school would also see upgrades to our technology infrastructure to better support the one-to-one initiative that places a computer in the hands of each student to further our informational reach. We would also see some improvements to two spaces that would create more flexible learning spaces to better meet the needs of our personalized approach to learning. This would include the library and a space on the upper level that is presently used as a teacher work room.

The intention of this column is to help our community understand how the April 5th Referendum will impact our building. If you have questions, please visit our website, ref2016.sdmfschools.org or pick up a fact sheet in the office. The future of MFHS is in our community’s hands, be informed and please vote on April 5th. Thank you for your support of the High School.

Corey GollaPrincipal

3Menomonee Falls Messenger

March 2016 • Issue 4Published Six Times Per Year

Menomonee Falls High SchoolW142 N8101 Merrimac DriveMenomonee Falls, WI 53051

MFHS PTSO President’s MessageCalling ALL PARENTS! Are you feeling lost, left out and unsure what is happening at your child’s school? The MFHS PTSO is an organization that supports our Students, Parents, High School Staff and Community. We provide scholarship opportunities for our graduating seniors, gift and grants for our staff members, along with in-depth knowledge for our parents in the forms of speakers and/or special programs. We are called upon by various school clubs and administration for volunteer or financial help throughout the school year. It’s a great way to be involved with your child’s school! The MFHS PTSO is looking for parents wanting to get involved at the High School. The PTSO is a great way to find out what is going on at all levels and areas of the school.

There are many ways that you can get involved – attend the monthly meetings where you can meet other parents, staff, and administration and discuss issues. Do you have a special talent or skill that you would like to share? Perhaps one of our committees would work for you then. Check out our current roster (located under “organizations” on the HS Website), to see what types of committees are represented. New ideas are always welcomed!

We are currently recruiting for all board/committee positions for the 2016/2017 school year, including all executive positions – no experience necessary. You are invited to attend our March 15th PTSO meeting. Grab a friend and come join us. It will be held in the office conference room #119. Our special guest speaker will be Meg Whaley, MFHS Health/Wellness & Physical Education teacher, presenting how parents and students can improve their wellness.

Spiritwear and Marcus movie tickets are still available. Contact Cheryl or Sue if you would like to purchase any items. For more information on committee/board responsibilities, please contact our Co-Presidents listed below. They will be happy to meet with you.

Sue Sutherland & Cheryl CieslewiczCo-Presidents – 2015/2016Kent.sutherland@sbcglobal.net /cherylcz@yahoo.com

AP Exam Exams must be registered and paid online. Deadline to order is Friday, March 11, 2016

O N L I N E P A Y M E N T I N S T R U C T I O N SThe School District of Menomonee Falls provides parents an easy and convenient way to pay for their student’s AP Exams. Parents may pay with Discover, MasterCard or VISA credit or debit cards. Our Web Store accepts payments over the internet 24/7. By contracting with RevTrak, a national credit card payment processor, we provide you a secure site for making payments.

To make an online payment follow these simple steps:• Visit our school website at mfhs.sdmf.schoolfusion.us – Families tab and click on Pay School

Fees Online or go directly to the Web Store at menomoneefalls.revtrak.net• Click on AP Exam Registration• Click on AP Exam you would like to purchase• Make payment using a Discover, MasterCard or VISA debit or credit card

4From the Desk of Associate Principal, Ms. Suzy ThomasAttendance CountsIt seems fitting that I write an update on our attendance project in the midst of February when it is often the most difficult to come to work. Despite the diminished light and sometimes challenging weather our students have responded well to our focus on the importance of attendance this year. Since our primary goal at MFHS is that all students will graduate prepared for their college and career plans, it is important that students are present for that work and they have an inherent understanding of how important attendance is to employers and for success in general.

Since students are not granted sick days, vacation days, or personal days we identified good attendance as 10 or less days absent each year. That allows for one absence a month during the school year. Exemplary attendance recognizes students who miss four or less days during the year, which allows for one absence per quarter. In 2014-15 only 73% of our student body had an attendance record that could be described as good or exemplary. Approximately 27% had attendance that we considered poor or unacceptable because they missed more than 10 days. We concluded our study with a goal to increase the number of students with good attendance to 76.5%

You may recall that we shared a lot of information regarding this goal early in the year. This included messages to parents as well as direct communication with students at school. We have had a team working intensely with students with poor attendance and have had significant outreach with those families. In addition, we have investigated the difference between subgroups of students to understand why some students have better attendance than others. This has helped us target our efforts in the areas that we believe will have the biggest impact.

We are proud to report that 80.2% of students had good or exemplary attendance during first semester. This means that 1075 students missed five or less days first semester. Even more impressive is that 700 students, more than half of our student body, had exemplary attendance first semester by missing two or less days of school.

Thank you for your effort in emphasizing the importance of attendance. It matters.

Academic Award and Merit CeremonyThe Academic Award and Merit ceremony will be held on May 16, 2016 at 6:00 PM. Information will be on our school website in the next few weeks.

Save the DateMenomonee Falls Scholarship & Educational Foundation Annual Auction - November 5th 2016, 5:30-10:00 Hilton Garden Inn

From the desk of the Associate Principal, Mr. Bob Vitale

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The semester is off to a good start. As we approach March there will be some very important testing taking place with juniors. Juniors will be taking the ACT March 1 and 2. These tests will take place in the new and old gym. Students will be divided by alphabet. Some helpful hints when you are taking

this exam; get a good night sleep before each day, eat a good breakfast, and hydrate yourself. The tests will take place during the morning of both dates. Junior students do your best, take your time, and complete all sections.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will begin making course selections for the 2016-17 school year. When making your selections be sure to:• check your total credits earned• what required courses do you need to take• choose classes that are as rigorous as you can handle.

If you need any assistance contact your counselor or see your administrator.

To under classmen, Summer Academy will take place again this summer. Those students needing to take credit recovery courses should see your counselor for the classes that need to be taken. For students who just want to “dabble” in an enrichment course, look at the course guide and see what interests you may find. The dates and times are listed below.

Let’s continue to have great second semester, stay on top of your grades and attendance. If you need any assistance do not hesitate to talk with your counselor or administrator.

Important dates to remember: Wednesday Early Release .................March 2, 9, 16, 23No School ...........................................March 10Spring Break ......................................March 25 - April 1ACT Testing Juniors .............................March 1,2Sophomores/Freshmen College visits ..March 1,2Parent /Teacher Conferences ...............March 10End of 3rd quarter ...............................April 5Summer Academy ............................. June 20- July 28 Session I 8:00-10:00/ Session II

10:15-12:15 (Week of July 4th of we will NOT meet on the 4th, but will continue on the 5th.)

Respect Everyone, Respect Education, Respect Environment! If you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please contact me at 262-255-8444, visit the school during the regular school hours, or email me at vitarob@sdmfschools.org

Thank you for your continued support!Sincerely,Mr. Vitale

Only A Short Time Until GraduationImportant Reminders…Class Of 2016March 18 – Jostens Graduation (Cap/Gown) Order Pick Up• Orders will be distributed to seniors beginning at

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM ○ Students will be called down alphabetically to

pick up their orders

March 22 – Scholarship Application DeadlineMay 9 – May 13 – Senior Holiday Ticket Sale

○ Tickets can be purchased during all lunch periods.

May 16 – Academic & Achievement Awards CeremonyMay 20 – Senior Holiday• Location – Davians Banquet & Conference Center• 6:30 – 11:00 PM; Dinner served at 7:00 PM; DJ/

Dance to follow• Dress – Business Casual; only members of the

Class of 2016 may attend

May 25 – Scholarship Awards Program• Location – MFHS Auditorium – 7:00 PM

June 8 – Graduation Rehearsal• Location – Schumann Stadium (Gymnasium if

inclement weather)• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM• All students must attend in order to participate in

graduation ceremony

June 11 – Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2016• Location – Schumann Stadium (Gymnasium if

inclement weather)• 3:00 PM – Graduates report to assigned classrooms• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Graduation Ceremony

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MFHS FBLA Dominates Regional CompetitionThe back-to-back state champion Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team of Menomonee Falls High School won the 28-team Region VII Regional Competition Saturday, Feb. 6 at Muskego High School. The state’s largest team occupied a good portion of the auditorium during the awards ceremony and showed its quality matched its size. 83 of the 123 competitors from MFHS qualified for state competition. The team travels to La Crosse for state competition April 11-12.

The World of Social Studies in 2015-16.The mission of the Social Studies Department is to produce students who exhibit historical literacy and have the skills necessary to make informed decisions.

During our First Semester, we continued to make improving student reading and note skills a focus of instruction. Over the last year, the Social Studies Department has worked with our building reading specialists to develop and incorporate various reading strategies as a regular part of day to day instruction. The department has implemented quarterly skills assessments in all required courses to monitor student growth in reading. Second semester begins with a lot of promise in fulfilling our department mission statement. The Social Studies Department has expanded our AP College Board offerings in recent years and has had record numbers of students enrolled in AP courses during the 2015-2016 school year. Beginning in the fall of 2016, students will be able to take Introduction to Social Sciences as a new elective, project based course. The Social Studies Department scope and sequence shift has been fully implemented and has allowed for maximum flexibility for students taking AP College Board courses as well as other electives.

All students are required to take three years of social studies. Freshmen students have the option of taking the World History course or AP Human Geography as their requirement. All sophomores are required to take a year of U.S. History. This course will analyze U.S. events from the post Civil War era through the early 21st Century. Sophomore students may satisfy the U.S. History requirement by electing to take AP U.S. History. All juniors are required to take one semester of U.S. Government and one semester of Economics. Students may satisfy these requirements with AP United States Government and AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics. Students electing to take the U.S. Government and Economics courses may take one junior year and the other senior year to allow maximum flexibility in scheduling.

With registration for the 2016-2017 school years nearing, there are some other items to note. Students can register for additional elective AP courses such as AP World History or AP Psychology. In addition we offer Introduction to Social Sciences, Sociology and Contemporary Issues to 10th thru 12th graders as electives. If you have specific questions about any of these options, talk to your school counselors.

Menomonee Falls Scholarship & Educational FoundationScholarship Applications are available February 23-March 22, 2016 on the high school website.

All local scholarship applications are due on March 22 in the high school auditorium. All seniors are encouraged to apply! There are many different scholarships and each one is described on the high school website.

The donors will then make their selections and recipients of the scholarships will be notified by phone and/or letter by May 15 if they are receiving a local scholarship. Recipients will not be told which scholarship they are receiving until that night. The Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to raise money for scholarships and provide funds to help with teacher classroom projects. The Foundation is the organization who plans and implements the Community Scholarship Program for Menomonee Falls High. The Class of 2016 will be recognized with scholarships and awards-from colleges and universities on Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend! The community believes in the students of Menomonee Falls High School and has supported the Scholarship Foundation since 1989 with various amounts of money for students to further their education at a college/university or career/technical school. Every year families, friends, organizations, clubs come together and offer scholarships to the senior class. Check out the Scholarship Information on the high school website.

Students who privately receive an award or scholarship from a college/university will also be recognized at the Community Scholarship Program. Seniors will be asked to submit a list of those recognitions to the Student Services Department by May 4 to be included in the booklet and honored on stage. This is a separate part of the Community Scholarship Program.

It is an amazing event, we hope you can join the night of excitement for the students. If you have any questions about the scholarship process, please call Lynn Zindl, Scholarship Foundation Secretary, @ 414.651.8681 or lzindl@aol.com.

Annual Scholarship Auction—Saturday, November 5, 2016—Hilton Garden Inn

7Falls Art Students Earn State Awards

The Menomonee Falls District Art Department would like to congratulate 32 art students that earned State Awards for the Wisconsin Regional Scholastic Art competition, the most prestigious art competition in our nation. The amount of awards earned this year has made history in the District Art Department. The Awards presentation was at the Milwaukee Art Museum, February 6, 2016. The exhibit is on view from January 30 to March 13 in the Quadracci Pavilion.

• Alex Maki, 9, Silver Key, Photography- Me • Alexander Eis, 12, Silver Key, Mixed Media- The Giving Hand • Aliya Rolenc, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Footsteps Of

Winterfall • Aliya Rolenc, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Frozen Beauty • Brooke Leitner, 11, Silver Key, Design- Fly • Cierra Brown, 12, Honorable Mention, Digital Art-Goldfish • Cierra Brown, 12, Silver Key, Digital Art-The Journey • Cierra Brown,12, Gold Key, Digital Art- 100% Happiness • Davis Corazzari, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Shadow • Davis Corazzari, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Barnyard • Dylan Frey, 8, Gold Key, Mixed Media- Bugs • Eden Engler, 12, Honorable Mention, Drawing- Comfy • Erica Nadolski, 12, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media- Cool Ride • Jazzton Dubinsky, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Nature Haven • Jazzton Dubinsky, 8, Silver Key, Photography- Witching Swamp • Lexi Chmielewski, 9, Honorable Mention, Photography- 9 Lives • Lexi Chmielewski, 9, Honorable Mention, Photography- Seeing Double • Lexi Chmielewski, 9, Honorable Mention, Photography-Beauty

Underneath

• Lexi Chmielewski, 9, Honorable Mention, Photography-Rollin • Michaela McMurray, 8, Gold Key, Photography- Trolley Car • Michaela McMurray, 8, Silver Key, Photography- Galaxy Drag Queen • Miranda Fluegge, 11, Silver Key, Drawing- Coutour • Miranda Fluegge, 11, Silver Key, Painting- Colorful Carrots • Miranda Fluegge,11, Honorable Mention, Drawing- Me • Natalie Armstrong, 11, Honorable Mention, Photography- The Stable • Noah Richardson, 12, Silver Key, Photography- Lonely • Olivia Eis, 9, Honorable Mention, Digital Art- Olivia • Olivia Eis, 9, Honorable Mention, Painting- Cream Please • Olivia Eis, 9, Silver Key, Painting- Underneath • Sabrina Ringen, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Bark Worlds • Sabrina Ringen, 8, Honorable Mention, Photography- Nature Steps • Sidnee Trimble, 7, Honorable Mention, Sculpture- Galaxy

A Gold Key Award art piece is sent onto the national competition, a Silver Key Award earns 1st in state, and Honorable Mention earns special state recognition.

The Scholastic Art Competition is comparable to the state football playoffs for student artists. It is truly an honor to have their work selected to be in the Scholastic Exhibition, let alone be on display in the Milwaukee Art Museum.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have provided an avenue for young artists and writers, in grades 7-12, to receive recognition and rewards for their creative achievements since 1923. By acknowledging the visions and voices of emerging artists and writers, The Awards have helped nurture eight decades of promising talent by providing recognition, cash awards and college scholarships.

MFHS Academic DecathlonDo you want to improve your study skills? read informational text better and faster? become a stronger speaker, interviewer, and writer? become a better all-round student? Academic Decathlon is an academic competition club that meets second hour during the school day (register when you sign up for classes). We also meet outside the school day for those students who cannot work it into their schedule. We need students from all GPA levels!

This year our theme was India, so we learned about the history, art, music, economics, and literature of India. Our science was ecology, and we also prepared for math, essay, speech, and interview events. Each year the United States Academic Decathlon selects a new theme for teams from all over the country to explore. The theme shapes an entire course of studies and brings it all together.

This year’s MFHS Academic Decathlon team finished its season at the regional competition this year with these awards:

• Brett Perry--3rd Place—Math• Bhakti Anbarasan--1st Place—Speech• Aprajita Singh--1st Place—Interview• Katelyn Macholl--1st Place—Interview• Ben Kraft--3rd Place--Interview

We’d love to have you join us next year! Email Mrs. Sparks, spareli@sdmfschools.org for more information.

FREE TRIAL!!!Exp. 3/31/2016

Mathnasium of Menomonee Falls

262-251-5600mathnasium.com/menomoneefalls

N78 W14569 Appleton AveMenomonee Falls, WI 53051

For the parents, staff, students and community of Menomonee Falls High School

Menomonee Falls High SchoolW142 N8101 Merrimac DriveMenomonee Falls, WI 53051

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8Nutrition News March 2016If your family lunch account is low ($5.00 positive or less) or is in the negative, you should be receiving an automated low balance email reminder from Wordware. If you are not getting this email reminder, please check your junk box and be sure to click to allow it! If you are still not getting the email, please call 262-250-6462 and verify with us that we have the correct email address that you want in your family’s lunch account. You can also still register your account online at https://family.wordwareinc.com. You will need a family key in step 2 of the registration. Call 262-250-6462, or email erdjea@sdmfschools.org to request yours. Please monitor your lunch account often!

Did you know? Students of all ages love the fresh pre bagged veggies they can quickly grab from the veggie bar! The bags have a variety of veggies inside that equal a one cup serving. They get a choice of humus or low fat ranch dip for the carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers in any combination that might be served that day.

This month’s Star Food is… Broccoli!

Fun Broccoli Facts:• Broccoli is related to cauliflower, kale, cabbage, turnips, rutabagas and Brussels sprouts.• California produces almost all the broccoli sold in the USA!• Broccoli heads are made up of little buds that are ready to flower.

Nutrition Facts of 3oz of BroccoliVitamin C 42.0mg 70%Vitamin A 400.0IU 8%Dietary Fiber 2.0mg 8%

Q: What do you get when you cross broccoli and a vampire?A: Count Broccula!

Grad Gram Alert!Do you know someone graduating in June? Grad Grams are those well wishes and congratulations on cardstock pages that are assembled into a booklet and presented to all graduating seniors along with their diploma.

These Grad Grams will soon be available in the main office after Spring Break. Should you need any sooner, as you visit family and friends over vacation, please contact Barb Nienow at (262) 251-8968. Grad Grams are sponsored by the MFHS Booster Club and sell for $1.00 each, 8 for $5.00 and 25 for $15.00 with proceeds going toward senior scholarships and funding other activities and events that benefit all students. All Grad Grams will be due back to the main office no later than Friday, May 27th.