MHS eNews October 31, 2024

Past issues of the eNews are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/enews

This Issue's Top Highlights

KNOW

The deadline to register for this spring's AP Tests is quickly approaching! If your student is taking AP classes, please make sure to check out the registration information below

DO

If your student has not received their school pictures or student ID, please encourage them stop in the main office to pick them up. Thank you!

Our girls soccer team will be playing in the State AA Championship game tomorrow! If your student plans on attending the game, please follow the instructions included in this eNews. Go Zephyrs!

Principal's Spotlight on Learning

Each month, Principal Justin Hann spotlights learning happening at Mahtomedi High School. This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on perseverance.

This week, we celebrated the Academic Awards at Mahtomedi High School(MHS). Included in our celebrations is a program book for each class that asks students, "What class or learning experience at Mahtomedi High School has shaped your academic growth or passions?" So many different academic experiences were highlighted. As an educator, I was proud to see the reflections of students and how they had processed rigorous experiences or setbacks and then credited those experiences to their academic success today.

When I think about how we support the growth of perseverance in our students, I think about their experience in math. Math is a foundational skill, and success has a significant impact on other academic areas. It is also a great example of how students learn to step out of their comfort zone, explore conceptualization (finding multiple solutions), and persevere through challenges. Matt Oswald, math teacher at MHS, shared this about working through mistakes in math, “The mistakes will teach lessons that will create opportunities for incremental growth steps and learning. As a result, through this perseverance - the students learn that they can do hard things, not just in math but in other subjects and life.”

Dave Wald, who teaches math at MHS and coaches the Math Team, sees math as a course where students develop academic risk-taking and productive struggle. A characteristic he sees when students are successful is a willingness to try even when they might get something wrong, and as a team, they work together to problem-solve and connect their previous learning. Math has multiple solutions, and by working together, they can get through challenges.

This year, MHS is offering AP Pre-Calc for the first time (it launched nationwide last year), and the class is taught by Loir Wojtas and Dave Wald. As educators, they have modeled their perseverance by advocating for and embracing this newly launched course. The class is geared toward non-accelerated students who desire to work towards math credit for college. Ms. Wojtas perfectly captures how math gives students a strong foundation to employ perseverance: “You are not going to be right 100% of the time. If students learn from mistakes, it is not a failure. Math teaches students it is ok to make mistakes, and that’s how you learn.”

School News

It's Time to Pay for your AP Exams

Students who are taking full-year AP classes and plan on testing in the spring need to pay for their test(s) by Wednesday, November 13th.

Here is the payment link.

If your class is Semester 2 only, no payment is due at this time.

Please reach out to Mr. Akins if you will NOT be taking the AP exam for an AP course in which you are currently enrolled.

If you need financial assistance for your tests, please follow the instructions in the above payment link or reach out to your counselor.

Student Mock Election- Tuesday, November 5th

ALL MHS students will have the opportunity to cast a ballot in the statewide "Students Voting" mock election. Voting will take place in the media center during student's Social Studies class. If a student doesn't have a social studies class, they can vote before school starting at 7:45AM, during lunch in the Commons, or after school until 3:00pm. This opportunity is supported by the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and the YMCA's Center for Youth Voice. For more information visit https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/get-involved/students-voting-statewide-mock-election/

Upcoming MHS Travel Opportunities!

MHS Italy and Greece Trip - Spring Break 2025

There are a limited number of spaces left on the MHS Italy and Greece Trip for Spring Break 2025. See our website for more information on the itinerary and price and to enroll by November 18. If you are interested in learning more or have questions, please email emily.larson@isd832.net

MHS Japan Trip - Spring Break 2026

Is your high school student interested in immersing themselves in a different culture, learning the history of a new location, and trying new things? If so, they are welcome to join our group of MHS students headed to Japan during spring break next year! This trip is open to all interested MHS high school students (class of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029).

You can find out all about our trip here (itinerary, price, FAQs, information meeting information, etc). If you have any questions, please email Emily Larson (emily.larson@isd832.net).

Donations Needed for Turkey BINGO

On Tuesday, November 26th, Mahtomedi Student Leadership Council will be hosting all-school Turkey Bingo and WE NEED PRIZES DONATED! Ideas include (but certainly are not limited to)...

Gift Cards to Favorite Teen Hotspots like Caribou, Starbucks, Gas, Raising Canes, Ulta, Chipotle, Amazon, Crumbl, Taco Bell, etc.
Tumblers and Water Bottles
Electronics
Movie Tickets,
Bath & Body Products,
Candy and Fun Snacks

The more prizes...the more WINNERS! Donations can be dropped off in the MHS Office by parents or students. Thank you for your support!

Athletics and Activities

Good Luck at State Zephyr Runners!

Good Luck to Cross Country Runners Matt Johnson, Matt Studenski, and Vanessa Rogosheske who qualified for the State Cross Country Meet!

They will represent Mahtomedi High School at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course this Saturday, November 2nd. The girls race starts at 10:00 am, followed by the boys race at 10:45 am. Click here for tickets to the State Cross Country Meet.

Go Zephyrs!

Girls Soccer plays for the Championship Tomorrow!

Congratulations to the Girls Soccer team on advancing to the State AA Championship Game tomorrow! They will play Holy Angels at 2:45pm tomorrow, Friday, November 1st at USBank Stadium. Click here for tickets to the Girls State Soccer Tournament. Good Luck Zephyrs!

DECA Takes Home 14 Awards!

The Mahtomedi Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Club kicked off the school year with a big win at the Back to Business leadership conference! Mahtomedi took 34 students to the event and won 14 medals! During the leadership conference, students attended competition-related workshops, took a 100-question comprehensive exam, and participated in role-plays that reflect current issues and trends in business and industry. Congratulations to first-year role-play medal winners: Gannon Hamen (2027), Ned Whitney (2025), Sam Churchill (2025), Jenny Onyeji (2028), Ava Lockbaum (2027), Ellen Gruba (2027), Greta Munson (2025), Lydia Bartness (2027) Blair Smith (2026), Ana Dahl (2027), Tami Akintola (2028), and Sophia Boberg (2028).

Zephyr Volleyball is headed back to the State Tournament!

The schedule for the State Volleyball Tournament games is as follows:

-Quarter Finals- Wednesday, Nov 6th (5 pm or 7 pm)

-Semi-Finals- Friday, Nov 8th (9 am or 11 am)

-& hopefully the Championship on Saturday, Nov 9th

All state tournament games are held at Xcel Energy Center

T-shirts to celebrate this accomplishment are available for purchase until this Friday morning (11/1) at 8 am. CLICK HERE for the order form Shirts are available in adult ($15) and youth ($14) sizes. Please note that you must choose the PICK UP AT HERITAGE option and pick up your own order on Tuesday, November 5th from Heritage Embroidery (1655 Market Dr, Stillwater, MN 55082)

Around the School

Academic Awards

Congratulations to our MHS students who were awarded Academic Achievement Letters this week! The Academic Awards at Mahtomedi High School recognizes a student’s past year’s academic achievement. It takes considerable time and effort to receive this recognition, and we are very proud of their accomplishment. At school, we held a recognition celebration and presented students with their Mahtomedi Letter (if it was their first Letter) and a certificate.
Photos from the event are available here.
Click the links below to see the Academic Awards programs by class.
Class of 2025
Class of 2026
Class of 2027

Talking with Zephyrs: What is one goal you have now or in the future?

Setting goals helps students identify what they are working toward and, through the process, stay motivated, work through challenges, and eventually celebrate the accomplishment of hard work! Ellie Driscoll, a Class of 2028 student and Mahtomedi Public Schools Communications Intern, recently asked students at MHS about the goals they are working on and one thing at MHS that is helping them achieve their goals. Click here to watch the video.

Class of 2025

College & Career

Get Involved

MAEF Fall Fund Drive: Empowering Student Experiences

The Fall Fund Drive is a vital initiative for the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation (MAEF), enabling us to enhance learning experiences for all Mahtomedi Public Schools students. With community support, we invest in innovative tools, academic excellence, and basic needs to promote student success. Together, we are dedicated to Empowering Student Experiences and creating a brighter future for Zephyr students. Click here to help us make an impact!

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