Mathews Local School District | November 2019

MATHEWS LOCAL SCHOOLS November 2019

MATHEWS HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTS RACHEL’S CHALLENGE

IN THIS EDITION: Mustangs Care

After the death of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine shooting, her family quickly learned about the positive impact she had on 2

people around her. Through personal stories and entries found in Rachel’s journals, her family was motivated to develop what has become one of the largest intervention programs in the United States.

Scarecrows for a Cause

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On Monday, October 28, students at Mathews High School learned the story of Rachel Joy Scott and were challenged to start a chain reaction of

Mustangs of the Month

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kindness and compassion in an effort to make Mathews Schools and the community safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced with kindness and respect.

Halloween

5 Students in grades 7-12 participated in the Rachel’s Challenge presentation,

Mark Your Calendars

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which shared the inspiring story of Rachel Scott whose example of kindness and acceptance was brought to light when she became the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy.

Cont. page 3

MUSTANGS CARE EXPANDS WITHIN MATHEWS LOCAL SCHOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS IN NEED After serving Mathews Local School students

Students at the high school are able to

for more than a year through their food

utilize the pantry whenever a need arises.

backpack program, the founders of Mustangs

The pantry contains non-perishable food

Care have expanded the program to reach

items and personal care items such as

even more students. In October, they opened

toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo,

a food pantry at Mathews High School to

deodorant

compliment their backpack program.

products.

“Our goal was to always serve the entire

“I am very pleased with the Mustangs Care

district, all ages of kids. We just started small

program. We have students stopping two

to make sure we did not over promise what

or three days a week to take home food

we could raise funds for and support. We

for

were

following day.

overwhelmed

with

community

the

and

evening

feminine

or

for

hygiene

breakfast

the

We’ve also had a need

donations last year. Those were able to

among our students for hygiene products,”

support our backpack program and so we

said Mathews High School Principal Jim

thought

Stitt.

if

we

started

the

pantry,

the

community would come through for us and support it and so far they have,” said Jessica

At the beginning of the year, registration

Licata.

forms were sent home with every student in the district. Beyond the registration

Jessica Licata and her husband Tim founded

forms, there are no other requirements for

Mustangs Care in the summer of 2018 after

the program.

partnering with the Fowler United Methodist

to any student regardless of their financial

Church and Pastor Mary Prior. In the fall of

status. Mustangs Care accepts monetary

2018, Mustangs Care sent backpacks full of

donations

food

in

Methodist Church to support their efforts

In

within the Mathews Local School District.

January of 2019, Mustangs Care expanded,

Food donations can be dropped off at the

distributing

students

Fowler General Store in Fowler or Cortland

grades 3-6. Through the backpack program,

Bank Vienna Branch in Vienna. Volunteers

students are able to receive two breakfasts,

also help pack the backpacks once a week

two lunches, two dinners, two snacks and a

for students in grades K-6. To learn more,

fruit or vegetable each weekend of the school

visit

year.

MustangsCareMathews.

home

with

students

in

need

kindergarten, first and second grades. food

backpacks

to

2

Mustangs Care is available

through

Mustangs

Care

Fowler

on

United

Facebook

at

RACHEL'S CHALLENGE CONT. Conveyed through stories from Rachel's life and writings, the Rachel's Challenge presentation showed the profound positive impact we can have on those around us. It demonstrated the power of deliberately reaching out in word and action to others to start what Rachel called "a chain reaction of kindness and compassion."

Students in grades 7-12 were challenged to do the following: Look for the best in others Dream big Choose positive influences Speak with kindness Start your own chain reaction After the presentation, approximately 40 students at the junior high and high school were trained to become leaders of change within the building.

CURRIE STUDENTS HELP SCARE AWAY HUNGER Kindergarten students at Currie Elementary School put their craft skills to the test, creating

scarecrows

for

a

good

cause.

Students in Sandra Williams, Michelle Bottorff and Brandi O’Connor’s classes were split into seven

groups

scarecrows.

that

were

Parents

asked

and

to

build

grandparents

volunteered to help assemble the students’ creations.

In

addition

to

practicing

their

listening skills and following directions, the kindergarten students also learned about wants and needs during the activity.

The

scarecrows were then taken to White House Fruit Farm to be included in the Scare Away Hunger Scarecrow Contest and Raffle.

White

House Fruit Farm encouraged local schools, businesses, churches, non-profit organizations, individuals and families to be part of the contest. Guests to White House Fruit Farm were able to vote for their favorite scarecrows for just $1. donated

to

The money that was raised was the

Rescue

Mission

of

the

Mahoning Valley. On Thursday, October 10, Currie’s kindergarten students traveled to White House Fruit Farm where they were able to see their scarecrows on display.

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CURRIE

MUSTANGS OF THE MONTH During the months of September and October, students at Currie focused on the character traits responsible and respect.

Teachers

talked with their students about what it means to be responsible and respectful and nominated students from their class who demonstrated these traits.

Congratulations to all of our responsible and respectful

Mustangs! Respect is also the character trait for November.

September Responsible Mustangs of the Month

K: Hannah Retterer, Zach Licatta and Brooklynn Kohut First: Lukas Niddel, Jordanna Detelich and Levi Skoczen Second: Huxley Stafford and Isabella Fleeger October Respectful Mustangs of the Month

K: Adam Leach, Carter Hribar and Brynn Trebilcock First Danny Moore, Gunner Denman, Millee Bonnell Second: Jessie Choleva and Rayna Upson

STUDENT RELEASE PROCEDURES

CURRIE BAKER REMINDERS

If a child needs to leave for a medical appointment or other excusable reason, the parent/guardian must send a signed note in the morning to the classroom teacher, requesting the dismissal of his/her child and stating the time, the date, and the reason (note is to be turned in to the office), or the parent/guardian should go to the school office

TRANSPORTATION

to

request

the

release

of

their

child. Additionally, no student will be

Parents are reminded to have students at

released to a person other than a custodial

their “designated place of safety” at pick-

parent(s) or guardian without a permission

up

their

note signed by the custodial parent(s) or

“designated place of safety” may be

guardian. This person must also be listed as

missed.

an emergency contact in FamilyID.

time.

Students

not

at

4

HALL

WEEN

5

NOVEMBER MARK YOUR

CALENDARS

Tuesday. November 5

Tuesday, November 19

No School for Students

Realeyes Assembly at Currie

Innovative Day for Teachers

and Baker

Election Day Wednesday, November 27 Friday, November 8

No School

End of 1st Grading Period PTO Cocoa and Canvas at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 28 Thanksgiving No School

Tuesday, November 11 MHS Veterans Day Ceremony at 9 a.m.

Friday, November 29 No School

Friday, November 15 MHS Picture Makeup Day Sunday, November 17 Soccer Banquet Cross Country Banquet Monday, November 18 Golf Banquet

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