Rebel Round Up
By Jacob Scandrett
This time of year signals the start of fall planning at MCC. We are beginning to look at course loads, class offerings and our schedule for next year. Discussions are happening with our departments regarding ideas for new courses that may be needed, and we are looking forward to registration this spring. With the discussion happening surrounding the 4-Day Week, registration will likely be delayed until we have more of a clear direction for next year. If the 4-Day Week is approved, our days will likely be lengthened necessitating a schedule change. Regardless of what happens with the 4-Day Week, or our schedule, we are committed to keeping our instruction strong and course offerings diverse for our students. We desire for students to be career and college ready so that they can make knowledgeable decisions regarding their futures. We will continue to look at progressive ways to meet student needs as well as the ever-changing labor needs of our community. Students at MCC go from our district with a strong foundation. Providing opportunities for students is one of our top priorities at MCC; whether it’s one of our many ag, shop or welding classes or our college in the school courses, we endeavor to have something for everyone. Engineering, business, and medical careers are all options students have to explore, and we are very proud of our tradition of high student achievement in our core academic subjects as well. One of my favorite things to hear students reflect on after leaving MCC is how much they appreciated their school experience (many times in hind sight) and how well prepared they felt for their next steps.
This year, we will be doing something a little different to start the new semester at the high school. We will be kicking off this semester with a panel discussion on empathy for the entire student body. Mr. Greg Scheitel, our school mental health social worker, will be leading several of our staff members in a discussion on understanding how it is to walk in someone else’s shoes. The goal is to help build unity among our student body and increased awareness for people who may not have the same story as we do. As we learn about other people’s stories, we build a sense of connection. Trying to see the world through another’s eyes and perspective helps us understand that we are not all the same. It helps us build awareness and creates caring and a stronger sense of community.
Another key event coming up this spring is our spring conference night. High school conferences are scheduled for March 3rd from 3:30-7:00pm in the new gym. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of conference night. This is a dedicated evening where parents and teachers can have face to face conversations about the progress their students are making in regard to their academic goals. Even in the midst of the technology age, and the ability of parents to pull up their child’s grades online, hearing directly from the teacher about how their child is doing and how they interact socially with their peers is of great value. This also helps to foster a positive relationship between the family and school, and research indicates that students are more successful when families are involved in their children’s learning. We look forward to seeing everyone there!