HHS...Behind the Stripes | Smore Newsletters for Education

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New HHS Administrative Assistant

Introducing our new High School Administrative Assistant, Brittney McNiell. She was hired at last week's board meeting and will begin duties at the end of the month in our high school office.

YEARS IN EDUCATION: First.

ABOUT MRS. MCNIELL: "I’m wife to Jeff and mother to Gracyn, a freshman, and Landrum, a sixth grader. When I’m not co-leading the Young Adult ministry at our church, Faith Fellowship, or following my kids’ sporting events or activities, you can find me covered in glitter working on my next craft project, engaged in a Bible study or designing graphics on the side. Our family’s life together is wildly busy but incredibly fulfilling."

WHY SHE IS EXCITED TO JOIN OUR TEAM: "I’m looking forward to being part of an incredible team. And I hope to bring a dose of sunshine to the staff, students and parents I interact with each day."

This and That...Daily Announcements

Monday, Nov. 28:

Boys Varsity basketball Home game against Koshkonong at 6
Roger Moore with PreEts will be here to meet with students in the downstairs conference room from 8am-3pm
Internship Logs due to Mrs. Gale or Office by Wednesday, November 30th
Army Recruiter in downstairs conference during Atlas and Lunch tomorrow
Texas Co Food Pantry wanted to thank all of the participants, especially the Cross Country Runners who participated in the Turkey Trot 5K

Tuesday, Nov. 29:

Internship Logs due to Mrs. Gale or Office tomorrow
Army Recruiter in downstairs conference during Atlas and Lunch today

Wednesday, Nov. 30:

Drama audition forms due by the end of the day
Deadline to request a second semester schedule change
Internship Logs due to Mrs. Gale or Office today

Thursday, Dec. 1:

HS Boys Basketball @ Mansfield Tournament
HS Girls Basketball @ Fordland Tournament
Choir performs at State Capitol

Friday, Dec. 2:

HS Boys Basketball @ Mansfield Tournament
HS Girls Basketball @ Fordland Tournament
FAFSA Completion Pizza Party
Drama auditions

Saturday, Dec. 3:

HS Boys Basketball @ Mansfield Tournament
Fall Sports Banquet @ 2:00 pm
Band performs in Eminence Christmas Parade
Scholar Bowl Tournament @ Washington

Sunday, Dec. 4:

HS Choir Concert @ Hiett Gym 3:00 pm

Everyday Things:

FINAL CALL for Peter Panic Cast Members! If you are planning to audition, please make sure your audition form is returned to Mrs. Williams by the end of the school day on Wednesday.

Spring Musical Audition Call!!!

Houston Drama is proud to present our first ever MUSICAL production, titled "Peter Panic"! Pam is the president of the drama club at her high school, but due to cutbacks, the club may soon be eliminated. Pam and her thespian friends decide to save the club by putting on a huge production of Peter Pan. But Coach Rook has other plans. He’s facing his own budget crisis in his football program and sets his Pirates loose on the drama club to wreak havoc! Football players audition for parts, cheerleaders become mermaids, and in desperation, Pam recruits students from detention to play the Lost Boys, well, Girls. As if surviving Rook’s sabotage wasn’t bad enough, Peter Pan spirals into Peter Panic when the school suddenly includes hooks on the list of weapons banned at school! Just when all seems lost, star quarterback Tinkerman, who plays — you guessed it! — Tinkerbell, sacrifices everything, including his football career, so the show can go on and Pam can see her dream come true!

Complete the form below if you would like to audition:

High School Audition Form Link: https://forms.gle/TntkcXuiMt3ohHnY9

Important dates and deadlines:

Forms are due by the end of the school day Wednesday, November 30.
Auditions are Friday, December 2 after school.
Morning rehearsals begin Monday, December 5.
Production week is April 10-15.

Seniors: Free Pizza for FAFSA verification

Mr. McNiell and Ms. Volk would like to challenge as many seniors as possible to complete his/her FAFSA by the end of November. The sooner you have your FAFSA complete, the better chances you have to gain more in financial aid.

Students who can complete the following steps to verify FAFSA completion:

Log in to fafsa.gov.
Select you’re a student.
Select “Continue.”
Your FAFSA status can be found on the “My FAFSA” page, which you’ll see right after you log in if you’ve started or completed a FAFSA form.

Either print this page or send a screenshot to Mr. McNiell or Ms. Volk by November 30, 2022.

Eligible students can attend a pizza party during ATLAS and lunch on December 2.

Seniors: Financial Aid Fridays during ATLAS

On Fridays starting October 28, we will start "Financial Aid Fridays" during ATLAS for seniors that are interested in learning more about types of financial aid and why it's important.

This will take place in the library during ATLAS. Report directly to the library. Your mentor teacher will mark you absent but a sign-in sheet will be provided to the office to correct attendance. If you do not sign-in and you are marked absent for ATLAS, then you may be subject to discipline for truancy. You do not have to attend all of the lessons. Pick which ones you think would be the most beneficial for you.

The lessons for the day will be as follows:

October 28: 3 Types of Financial Aid

November 4: Going Merry's FAFSA Made Easier

November 11: Creating an FSA ID // Starting the FAFSA

November 18: Meet with Mentor teacher // Career Day debriefing

December 2: How State Aid Works

December 9: Understanding Grants & Scholarships, Work Study, & Student Loans

December 18: Putting it all together: Sample Aid packages

ACT Registration Now Open

Members of the HHS classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025 are encouraged to sign up now for the District ACT. The deadline is December 16, 2022, for the March 7, 2023, test.

You can sign-up by filling out the form using this link: https://forms.gle/RrDqg6jB9qotNpyu7

The test is free for any interested junior as well as at a discounted price for seniors and sophomores. We plan on offering ACT prep during ATLAS and a Chad Cargill workshop in the spring. If you would like additional ACT prep information, please check out the high school counseling webpage: https://www.houston.k12.mo.us/page/high-school-counselor

Questions? Contact HHS Counselor Tara Volk at tvolk@houston.k12.mo.us.

Missouri Boys and Girls State

Young men and women who exhibit high standards of leadership, character, scholarship and citizenship are considered for participation in Boys State and ALA Girls State. Students are required to participate in the full eight-day program.

Selection qualifications include:

• Must be between the ages of 15 and 19 by June 24, 2023.

• Must have successfully completed their junior year in a Missouri high school.

• Must be endorsed by the high school principal or the high school principal’s designee.

• Complete an online application on our websites. Boys State link // Girls State link

• Let your counselor know you are interested in participating and follow the nomination process established by your high school.

• You will be notified by Missouri Boys State or ALA Missouri Girls State when you are accepted. • Save the dates of June 24th through July 1st and watch your email

Teacher Proud

This week's #TeacherProudTuesday was a celebration of Mrs. Sherri Gale, a high school business teacher in our district.

According to High School Principal Amanda Munson, "Mrs. Gale is passionate about student success, in and out of the classroom. She will go above and beyond for our students, whether they are in her classes or not. It is evident that she cares deeply for our students, advocating for, cheering for, encouraging, challenging, and supporting each one she encounters. She takes a great amount of pride in her profession and our district. She not only pours her energy into our students, but into her co-workers as well. She serves on the HS Building Leadership Team and is the facilitator and mentor for the CTE (Career and Technical Education) department. We appreciate all she does for our district!"

Greenhouse in our Future!

Our district has received a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Enhancement Grant that will help fund the purchase of a 30 x 48 foot greenhouse for Houston R-I FFA. “We are excited about this addition on campus and looking forward to what Mr. Price and the agriculture department have in store for us,” said Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent. The structure will be similar to the pictures below.

Houston R-I Bands

CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Levi McConnell for being selected to perform in CARNEGIE HALL this February with the Honor Performance Series hosted by Worldstrides! It's an incredible privilege to be selected for this, and we're extremely proud of him. What's next?

Show your support for Levi - getting to New York will be no small feat! The goal is to raise $3,000 in just a few weeks. Visit the McConnell's GoFundMe here: https://gofund.me/a7a70474

Levi gives a lot of time and energy to music - he plays trumpet, trombone, euphonium, AND tuba. He made 1st Chair Tuba in our District Concert Band this fall and he'll be auditioning for All-State Band in December. Last year he made 1st Chair Tuba SCA Conference Band, and he was a trumpet soloist in this fall's marching production "A Place I Know".

GREAT JOB, Levi!

Red Kettle Campaign

Is there a group that would assist in our school's (district) participation in the Red Kettle Campaign? This would look like outreach to our clubs, groups, etc. to help fill some gaps in "ringing the bell" at Wal-Mart. Are you a group of any sort that would be interested in signing up for a slot to give back to our community?

Here are the details:

Red Kettle Campaign starts on November 19 and ends on December 23
Time slots are in 1 hour increments (you can sign up for more)
Monday-Saturday is from 10-7; Sunday is from 12-5
This campaign supports all of Texas County

Last year: $20,943.49

Utility support
Transportation
Healthcare
Housing support
Lodging for homeless
Mortgage support

Food Pantry contact is Laura Crowley at (417) 217-9632.

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