Munster High School | 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
Hall of fame Issue
Crier
issue 1 | volume 52 | aug. 18, 2017
INSIDE LOOK introduction to new staff | page 2-3 alumni hall of fame | page 4
UPCOMING hall of fame ceremony | today solar eclipse | monday summer reading tests | aug. 28, 30
Change of course
Multiple policy updates accompany the beginning of the new school year New message:
Administration works to centralize student data through Powerschool. related stories in blue
Money matters Acorn, new payment system Allows parents to pay class fees with credit card, master card, visa or e-check in the parent portal of Powerschool Pro.
Reporting by Ian Brundige, Mimi Brody and Joe Bermudez Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Section Chief
Attendance
Beginning this year, a student’s eighth absence will result in a Saturday detention, and a ninth will be an in-school suspension. A tenth could result in an out of school suspension, but parents can still pay by cash or check the administration’s suspension diversion poliin school with the bookkeeper If students are in certain foreign language, AP or cy could result in community service. This can upperclassman Math or English courses, chances be avoided by documentation verifying the leare they can receive college credit for—free. gitimacy absences. The Higher Learning Commission mandated “Our parents overwhelmingly said this is a teachers teaching dual-credit courses must have good thing because they’re the ones trying to a particular qualifications, including a Master’s get their kids to school,” Mr. Morgan Nolan, AsDegree, by 2020. Purdue University Northwest, the For years, MHS has required teachers sistant Principal, said. “They think this is going previous dual-credit provider, then accelerated the to administer a final exam in their classto help at home to get them there because their deadline to 2018, therefore not providing credit for es, according Principal Mike Wells, and kid doesn’t want to get a Saturday detention.” classes taught by any teacher that does not meet many of those evaluations are given with Along with the parents, students like Maty these requirements. Fortunately, students are still Scantrons. The double-sided blue and Nelson, senior, are also in favor of the policy able to get dual-credit for classes through Ivy Tech with half slips of paper all MHS students change. Community College without paying anything. are familiar with. However by the end of “I think (the new attendance policy) is fair be“While we still have a few course offerings from this year they may not be needed anycause if you are missing that many days you Purdue Northwest, we have switched to Ivy-tech. more. should have a doctor’s note,” Maty said. “I think All of the classes that were available previously are “I don’t know if you know this, but each your 8th absence is grounds for disciplinary still available through Ivy Tech or Purdue NorthScantron is eight cents,” Mr. Wells said. actions because there should be a reason for west,” Mrs. Jennifer Dettlo, Spanish teacher, “(The school is) spending close to $8,000 a you to miss said. “The most significant change though is year just on Scantrons where it didn’t rethat much whereas Purdue Northwest received fundally do what we needed it to do.” school.” ing from the federal government to offer Mastery Manager, through its exam Considerthese classes they still charged students to login, is the solution administration has Blackboard ing this is the take the course, Ivy-tech is charging nothing found to reduce this use of funds. A number of teachers are testing first year this so all dual credit courses are now free.” While students enjoyed a break, MHS Blackboard, as an alternative to policy will Benefits of enrolling in dual-credit offerteachers gathered in the resource room Moodle for class organization be active, it ings through Ivy-tech, according to Mrs. Detand auditorium yesterday afternoon is to be seen tlo, are that you can knock out college classlearning the funtions of the Mastery Manwhether or not this attendance policy will rees, without paying hefty college costs. ager software. main, according to Mr. Michael Gordon, social “If you take full advantage of this, you can save “(Mastery Manager) allows the teachers studies teacher, said. near—I would guess—$10,000 in basic credit requireto look at the data more closely through “I like that we are doing something,” Mr. Gorments. Also if you are taking a class simultaneously the item analysis and then import the don said. “We’re going to have to see how it in high school or college, you grades into Powerworks and study it then decide whether or not can knock out some basics school, once the grades the new policy is a step up from the old one. which frees up your college are online or through But it is certainly, potentially a step in the right time to focus on courses that the Kodak scanner,” Mr. direction. We’ll have to watch to see how it gets are more difficult to enroll in, Moodle and Powerschool Pro Wells said. implemented.” or provide you to opportunity Both websites experienced to take courses of interest,” Mrs. redesigns over the summer Dettlo said.
Dual-Credit
Mastery Manager
Pilot test
Website updates