Bulldog Bulletin

Hello Bulldogs!

Spring Break is coming quickly. Our school will be closed to the public March 15-19 while staff are away for the break. If you need to report any Covid related illnesses to us during that time please send an email to MelbourneHigh@brevardschools.org and we will follow up with you once school reopens on March 22.

We wish your family a safe and relaxing break!

Dr. Chad Kirk, Principal

Mel Hi has a new, online school store! This is the place to get your official Mel Hi gear with our school colors and logos. Please check it out and share this link with friends, family, and alumni of Mel Hi. We would appreciate your help with spreading the news of this online school store through your social media. You are welcome to share the link. Thank you!

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/florida/melbourne/melbourne-high-school-off

Please call our office at 321-952-5880 x24503 if your child, or someone who lives in your home, tests positive for the Covid-19 virus. We will work with you to determine the correct quarantine dates for your child and ensure continuity of instruction while they are learning from home.

You can read the most current information regarding quarantines here: https://www.brevardschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=5964&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=67575&PageID=1

School Counselors will be meeting with all brick and mortar students this week, March 8 – 10. Students will receive a pass in their 1st period class with their appointment date, time, and place. Students should have their completed registration planning sheets with them each day next week. Counselors will collect them when they meet with the students one on one.

E-Learners will meet with counselors through zoom next week, March 11 – 12. Please refer to the attached schedule for the zoom link and time. Times are based on last names. Please adhere to your assigned time to cut down on your time in the waiting room.

You can find all forms, a power point explaining the process and elective choices, and the e-learner schedule on our school website here: 2021/2022 Course Selection Process and Forms for Mel-Hi Current Students / Home (brevardschools.org)

Please complete this online survey from home on your home computer or on your smartphone. Paper copies are available for families with limited electronic access. By completing this survey, you will help us serve each of our students at Mel High with excellence.

A summary of the parent survey results will be reported and posted on the BPS Family Engagement website at https://tinyurl.com/BrevardFE

as well as our school website. Survey results and comments will guide school improvement efforts and be used to meet the diverse needs of Brevard students and families.

The Florida Department of Education is working with school districts to gather information on how well parents think their child's school is partnering with parents of students with disabilities, and would like to include your input. Your responses will help guide efforts to improve services and results for children and families. This survey is for parents of students with individual educational plans (IEP) receiving special education services during the 2020-21 school year. All information provided will remain confidential.

You can access the survey with the following web address:

www.esesurvey.com

Once on the sign-in page, please click on the following statement:

If you do not have a cover letter or paper survey, please click here to access the survey.

The SpeakUp project is a national project that assists education leaders in including the voices of parents, students, and the community in annual and long-term planning regarding the use of technology in education. The results of the survey are shared with policy makers at the state and local level to determine how funds will be spent for technology integration within Brevard Public Schools. The survey will be open through March 5. See the flyer below for the link to take the survey.

Leave your mark on MHS!

Learn computer programs used in college and professional journalism!

Publish work to build your Portfolio!

Here’s how:

JOIN THE JOURNALISM PROGRAM!

Our yearbook wins national awards – and makes your portfolio look good!

The Journalism program is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year.

Email Ms. Marrara at marrara.alicia@brevardschools.org for an application.

All students taking an AP course should plan to complete their AP journey and take their AP Exams. And this year, AP students have more free support than ever before to help them finish the year strong, prepare for their AP Exams, and have a chance to earn college credit!

To help your child stay on track:

• Make sure your child has joined AP Classroom, where they can access free learning videos and practice real AP Exam questions.

• Encourage your child to take AP Exams so they have the chance to stand out to college admissions officers and save money on tuition with a qualifying exam score.

• Ensure your child checks in with their AP teacher to confirm they’re registered for their AP Exams by the March 12 final deadline.

• Stay in touch with your child’s school for updates on testing options and the AP Exam schedule.

• Visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/ for additional information.

This past weekend Melbourne Masquerade hosted our annual Princess Tea Party. Guests walked through a Princess Maze before sitting down for a 55 minute non stop musical performance.

COME ROW WITH MHS CREW!! Try it out for free.

Please see Mrs. Kaminski in room 803 or email her at kaminski.amy@brevardschools.org for more details.

Want to take free practice SAT, PSAT, ACT or AP tests?

Go to Melbourne High School homepage; under “Academics”, click on the media center link.

Click on the Testing Education Research Center link.

You can take practice tests and improve your score; find a college that fits you; create a resume; explore careers by matching your passion with your potential; take a vocational test prep.

This website is only accessible by Melbourne High School students. The student MUST register first on a school computer and then the program can be accessed from home.

The student can come to the media center any time for help with registering.

Early Admissions- Early Admissions Applications are now available!

Early Admissions is a dual enrollment program available for seniors that want to attend EFSC full time senior year. Students accepted to this program cannot take any classes on the high school campus and must meet eligibility criteria. Current Juniors can apply now for next year.

You can pick up an application in the guidance office before or after school or during lunch.

You can also access all forms on our MHS website – hover over Guidance, click Dual Enrollment, find Early Admissions on the left hand side.

This link will take you directly to all forms: Dual Enrollment / Early Admissions Application Forms (brevardschools.org)

Collegiate High School and Part Time Dual Enrollment – If you missed the information session last week you can find the recorded session on our website; hover over Guidance>click on Dual Enrollment> the link will be at the top of the page. You should fast forward to 0:30, we started the recording too early.

We were able to get permission to offer another session of the PERT test on our campus. This will be the last opportunity to test at Melbourne School for any Dual Enrollment. You must register to test here: Student Interest Form (google.com) THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS THIS FRIDAY March 5th. Absolutely no exceptions can be made to this deadline. The link for the PERT registration is at the end of the Student Interest Form, you MUST complete BOTH forms to be able to test on the MHS campus. This second PERT testing session will be mid-April and you will be notified via email after spring break.

EPO/ELO Open Enrollement – 1/4 – 2/26/2021

Open Enrollment has begun. If you are attending Melbourne High School on a program – Educational Program Opportunity (EPO) or through Edcuational Location Option (ELO) you MUST complete your renewal application now. The application window is from January 4 – Feburary 26. You can access the application through your family dashboard here: Open Enrollment - Parental Choice / Open Enrollment-Parental Choice Home (brevardschools.org)

FAFSA:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is financial aid provided by the federal government by way of grants, work study, and students loans. Most Universities will require you to complete a FAFSA application before offering you a financial package. Applying for the FAFSA takes two steps:

1. Create a FSA ID – https://studentaid.gov/ - click on Create Account

2. Complete the FAFSA application – https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

2020-2021 Yearbooks are still on sale! The cost is $85. Go to http://YearbookOrderCenter.com and use our school code: 1936.

Bright Futures:

Bright Futures is financial aid provided through the state of Florida by way of a scholarship. As long as you meet the qualifications of GPA, test scores, and volunteer hours and completed this online application in your senior year of high school you will receive a scholarship from Bright Futures. You must turn your volunteer hours in to your school counselor. You can complete this application even if you have not yet met the qualifications. They will match your information as it gets completed. Complete the application here: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.

Florida A & M Scholarship--FAMU is offering scholarships to seniors attending FAMU in the fall 2021 semester. See Mr. Boos in guidance for the application. The deadline to apply is March 22.

Jostens is the local partner for class rings and graduation attire for Melbourne High School. Traditionally, Jostens sends a representative to campus for a live presentation to our junior and senior classes about these items. Due to the pandemic, Jostens has elected to create a completely online ordering platform this year. Please be sure to read through each section that is applicable to your student.

Class rings are available to our junior or senior classes. Graduation attire is for seniors only.

Click here to access Josten's online order platform: https://flgrad.com

National School Breakfast Week- March 8-12 is National School Breakfast Week! Stop by the cafeteria before first period to have breakfast and receive a prize (while they last).

Free and Reduced Lunch Information-Great news! The US Department of Agriculture has extended their summer food service program through June 30, 2021. This means that all BPS students are eligible to receive free breakfast AND lunch at school. Although meals are free to students, it is important that interested families apply for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) benefits if they have not done so already. Students with an approved FRL application may be eligible for additional benefits.

FRL applications can be completed online by clicking here: www.brevardschools.org/page/3473

The procedure to return your ELearner to campus for instruction is quick and easy. All you have to do is contact your child's guidance counselor via phone or email with notification that you intend to return your child to campus and on which date the student will return. Counselor names and the last names they serve are shown below:

Ms. Canose--Last names A-D

Ms. Weinstein--Last names E-K

Ms. Farrow--Last names L-Q and ESOL students

Mr. Boos--Last names R-Z

Ms. Persing--Early Admissions and Collegiate High School students

Ms. Mason--International Baccalaureate students

Mel High teachers want all of their students to be successful. In order for our ELearners to fully benefit from their virtual classroom experience our teachers will maintain and enforce the following expectations:

1. Students should be properly dressed for virtual instruction just as if they were going to attend class on campus. In short, students should not be in their pajamas or beach wear when attending class.
2. Students should plan to log into their class at the time it meets on campus.
3. Students should plan to show their face for the entire period to the teacher. This not only allows the teacher to verify the presence of your child for attendance purposes, it also allows the teacher to fully involve your child in the class. Teachers may mark students absent from class if they refuse to show their face on camera. Remember, ELearning only exists because of the pandemic. In a normal year every child would be showing their face live and in person in the classroom.
4. Students should plan to participate in class for the entire period. They should not walk away from the camera, attend to household chores, or engage in other activities that would not be allowed in a normal school setting.

Thank you in advance for helping us communicate these expectations to your student.

Tutor sessions are open to all students. Contact the instructor for more information.

Algebra with Ms. Connie Johnson (johnson.connie@brevardschools.org)

Mon-Thurs. 3:45-4:45

in room #802 building 2, no appointments needed

primarily algebra and 9-10th grade classes

Zoom sessions available upon request.

Sessions are one on one and are scheduled individually.

English with Ms. Michele Parent (parent.michele@brevardschools.org)

Wednesday and Thursday 3:40-4:40 in room 01-233

SAT/ACT Prep with Mr. Mike Soliven (soliven.michael@brevardschools.org)

All Things College Zoom conference every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m.

College essay tutoring and college application counseling by appointment

Geometry with Ms. Jodi Ziade (ziade.jodi@brevardschools.org)

Monday-Thursday after school 3:45-4:45 in room 802

Zoom sessions can be scheduled from 5:00-6:00 as needed

Instagram: mhs_studentgov

Email: MelbourneHigh@brevardschools.org
Website: www.brevardschools.org/MelbourneHS
Location: 74 Bulldog Boulevard, Melbourne, FL, USA
Phone: 321-952-5880
Facebook: facebook.com/melbournehs