Second to none!
Some changes at the state level have moved our ACT statewide ACT testing day to March 20, 2018. This is almost a full month ahead of when we are used to testing our juniors. With that important benchmark moved, we will be moving our traditional ACT prep ahead in the semester as well. Right now we are looking at beginning our ACT prep for juniors around February 19 and taking that time all the way through March 16. Students will rotate through instructional sections in all the ACT subtests Reading, Math, Science, and English during that ACT prep time.
While any student can participate in the ACT prep, it is required for juniors. Students who choose not to participate in ACT prep will have Honor Time with their first period teacher where they can use 25 minutes to complete homework.
We would like to thank all the parents, students, and staff of this great community for the better then excellent graduation rate posted by the class of 2017. That group of students had the highest district graduation rate in the state of Wyoming with a graduation rate of 98.3%. This is quite an honor and one that truly benefits our students and the community. It is also a team effort from everyone associated with our schools to keep students engaged and wanting to graduate. Congratulations and great job.
During the 2017 Legislative session, changes were signed into law related to high school students taking college level coursework and how that coursework would be calculated into students’ Hathaway GPA. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year all districts are required to use a weighted Hathaway GPA for all +1000 level and above dual and concurrent courses. A student receiving an A in a +1000 level college course will receive a 5.0 for their Hathaway GPA for that course; A B in a +1000 level course will count as a 4.0 for that course, and so on. This weighted GPA will be used to determine a student’s Hathaway scholarship eligibility only, and will NOT be used to determine valedictorian or salutatorian status, or other end of year honors, including class rank.
In February, all 10th and 12th grade students will be completing a Prevention Needs Assessment survey for the state of Wyoming. This is a survey that is administered to our students in alternating years. Data from this survey helps communities identify areas that are influential in the misuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and narcotics. If you do not want your student to participate in this survey you will see an “opt out” form that you must sign and return to the school. Be on the lookout for that information if you are interested in having your student NOT take the survey.
Throughout portions of the school year, we will again use our Academic Honor Time schedule. This is a 25-minute time in-between first and second period where students have an opportunity to work on the work that they need to be doing with their first period teacher. We are having discussions as a staff about how to continue to make that time valuable for all students. That Academic Honor Time is an excellent opportunity for any student to get caught up on their work, and we want to hold students accountable for getting good grades. A quick look at our ACT scores shows that doing well in school is part of the culture at MVHS.
This year, we will again be using a Remind account for MVHS Students and Parents. If you text @cdkbc to the number 81010, you will get important messages from MVHS regarding important events. I promise I will not be overloading your text message in box. I wanted this to be a chance for me to communicate with parents if we should ever have a late start due to inclement weather, or to remind parents about special events at MVHS. This will not be a "daily" Remind. Be sure to follow MVHS on Twitter; just bang the link below.
Thanks for having your child be a part of what we are doing here at MVHS. I am excited looking forward to our incoming students for the 2017-2018 school year as we continue on our path to be Second to None.
Ben Carr, Principal
PS Click the printed link below to follow the high school principal on Twitter!
Follow @MVHS_Buffs
