2 minute read
Around Campus
by MMI Prep
The Freeland Fire Department recently installed officers for 2023. MMI Director of Facilities Joe Stepansky was again named Chief of the Department, a post he has held since 2009.
The Interact Club had a very busy fall and winter! Interact is a service organization for high school students who desire to volunteer their time and aid school and community. Interact is an international organization sponsored by Hazleton Rotary, Freeland Rotary, and Rotary International. The word “Interact” stands for “international action”.
• The members of MMI’s Interact Club took part in Freeland’s Safe Trick or Treat over Halloween weekend and distributed candy.
MMI hosted a school sponsored Thanksgiving lunch for students, faculty, and staff on November 23, followed by a pie dessert provided by the Parents Association. The senior class selected the menu which was prepared by MMI’s kitchen staff.
• The group collected hats and gloves in conjunction with Hazleton Rotary’s Kidz Coatz project which distributes brand new coats to children in need from elementary/middle schools in the Hazleton Area School District. The MMI Interact Club collected over 400 items to accompany Hazleton Rotary’s coat delivery to the area’s schools.
• The Interact Club presented a check to the Lehigh Valley Cancer Center for $200 from their Pink Ribbon sale in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness.
Khristian Banks ’23 and Kate Malay ’23 present a check to Lisa Marie Halecky, Hazleton Rotary President and LVHN Communications and Community Engagement Manager.
• Interact has been working on making blankets during and after club periods. The students also ran a fundraiser for Valentine’s Day that sold 351 CandyGrams to be delivered to students, faculty, and staff. The proceeds from the sale will be donated, along with the blankets, to area shelters.
On January 27, in celebration of National School Choice Week, the students held a pep rally and a Student Council sponsored Hot Cocoa Paint ‘n Sip before the home Boys Basketball game. Students created signs and posters saying why they are glad they made the choice to come to MMI!
The Diversity Club positioned posters throughout the school for Black History Month, celebrating the contributions of Black Americans to our history and culture.
MMI celebrated School Counselor Week and Food Service Week by showing appreciation for our counselors and kitchen staff. Everyone was treated to goodies at lunch on February 10.
Congratulations to our Mathcounts participants! On February 11, eight competitors attended the event and placed fourth. Simona Sickler ‘27 placed fifth in the individual round, third in a head-to-head countdown, and is now qualified to compete at the state level. Other team members included Philip Benyo ‘27, Ian Composto ‘27, Andrew Pedri ‘28, Siya Patel ‘28, Shreeya Parikh ‘28, Olivia Moore ‘28, and Evan Polanco ‘28.
In the Classroom
Director of College Counseling
Stephanie Shandra participated in a brandnew program designed to help grow, advance and “amplify” the strengths and skills of several of the area’s female leaders and workers.
Amplify: Women’s Leadership, a joint project founded by Leadership Northeast, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, and CEK Communication, graduated its inaugural class of 28 women from all different fields and business specialties with a certificate ceremony held at the Think Center on South Main Street in December.
The 7th grade Ancient Civilizations class created their own clay tablets using cookie dough. They had to write out sentences using Mesopotamian cuneiform. Later in the year, they were assigned to perform a “soap opera” style skit going over the story of pharaohs Thutmose I, II, III and IV.
AP Biology students examined catalase enzyme activity by modifying operating temperature range, pH, or enzyme concentration. They used paper disks in the enzyme and then transferred them to micro environments containing hydrogen peroxide. As the oxygen bubbled out of the disks, they would rise. This lab helped students conceptualize how environmental changes drive the evolution of functional enzymes.
