Todd Snyder helped Judy Mammen, Esmeralda Ochoaescobar, and Alvaro Saldarriaga Arcila win the 2023 McDonald’s Golden Grant Award for their project “Engineering a Water Distillation Powered by Passive Energy,” earning them $1,000. Their proposal was highly praised by the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association’s Golden Grants Team.

Natasha Sanchez, a twelfth grader, and her art classmates and staff (Ms. Zamora, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Chambers)—contributed to a winter-themed art project at Piedmont Eastside’s ICU and PCU waiting rooms. The artwork was well-received, with a visitor expressing that the painted windows provided therapeutic comfort during a difficult time, highlighting the significant role of visual arts in healthcare environments. A family member of one of the patients stated, "Having these painted windows is like having therapy. It feels so comforting! I am here with my father-in-law, who is a patient. I love Christmas, and being away from home this time of year is especially tough, but having these uplifting windows makes it so much better."

Abigail Huamantica-Sosa - 1st place Marketing Communications

Jasmine Osorio-Antonio - 1st place Apparel and Accessories

This is the first time MHSHS has had students place in Regional Competition! Congratulations to Abigail, Jasmine and Mrs. Berry!!

Judy Mammen has successfully matched with Notre Dame University, securing a comprehensive four-year scholarship valued at over $200,000!!!!

While the other two students did not secure a match, being QuestBridge finalists allows them to apply to any QuestBridge partner schools at no cost. Historically, 40% of finalists who didn't secure a match were admitted to at least one college partner through QuestBridge Regular Decision or other admissions rounds.

Congratulations to our November students, Teachers, and staff member of the month awardees! Your commitment and efforts are truly appreciated. This month's honorees are:

• Valeria Guadalupe Higuera Calvo (9th-grader)

• Crystal Villeda Contreras (10th-grader)

• Chrystopher Cambara (11th-grader)

• Sierra Lashon Daniels (12th-grader)

• Alisha Klimp (Teacher)

• Graciela Rivas-Araujo (Staff Member)

We are excited to invite students to apply to PCOM Georgia’s Opportunities Academy 2024! Opportunities Academy is an enrichment program for local high school students that encourages them to pursue a career in the healthcare profession.

Opportunities Academy is hosted by PCOM Georgia students who are studying to become physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals. Selected high school students will enjoy an action-packed, one-week, interactive program at NO cost to them at PCOM Georgia's Suwanee campus.

Opportunities Academy will include hands-on activities, touring of the campus, and more. On-campus policies will be communicated to students selected for the academy at a later date. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The Opportunities Academy leadership team will review applications and send an invitation to students who are accepted into the Academy on Friday, February 23, 2024, by 11:59 PM.

Thank you, and please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

OPPORTUNITIES ACADEMY 2024 DATES/HOURS

Monday June, 24th - Friday June, 28th 2024

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

APPLICATION CRITERIA

For rising high school Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors from underrepresented communities who attend high school in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 2nd, 2024, at 11:59pm

APPLICANT SELECTION DATE: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 by 11:59 pm

LINK TO OPPORTUNITIES ACADEMY APPLICATION: OA Application Link

1-Minute Tip: Chew a piece of sugarless bubblegum and blow a few mindless bubbles. It sounds silly, but doing so lets your mind wander and can help avert your attention from stress to something else.

Do a quick yoga sequence. One of the best ways to relieve stress is movement. Yoga relieves tension in the mind and body and routines can vary to meet your time constraints.

30-Minute Tip: Drop off clothing and items to a local donation center. Do you have a bag full of things you've been meaning to give away? Take 30 minutes to give back this holiday season, which can also ease worry and sadness.

Scan the QR codes below or click the links to stay connected to MHSHS and stay up to date on important information.

GCPS Website

MHSHS Website

MHSHS Instagram - @mcclurehealthsciencehigh

MHSHS Foundation

SY 24 Free and Reduced Lunch Application

Parent Portal

MyPaymentsPlus

ParentSquare Help

Thank you for supporting us through our Foundation! Please ensure that you are choosing McClure Health Science High School when donating. See the picture below for details!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the gateway to getting federal student loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study for school, but there can be so much confusion around it.

The FAFSA® used to be a super long application that took a lot of time and effort—that’s now a thing of the past. The FAFSA® for the 2024-2025 academic year is the new and improved version. Check out the link below to see all the changes!

Tips on how to avoid these common FAFSA® mistakes

Every year, families postpone filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Some skip it entirely because they think it’s a waste of time, the application is too long, or it's only a fast track to federal student loans. However, the FAFSA® package can also include college scholarships, work-study, and grants. Not filling it out—the most costly FAFSA® mistake—can result in losing money that could have helped you pay for college. Don’t be that student, and make sure you avoid these common FAFSA® mistakes by checking out the article link below!

GCPS has transitioned from SchoolMessenger to ParentSquare for two-way communication between schools and families, and we encourage all families to download the app and create an account. With its user-friendly interface, ParentSquare offers seamless two-way communication through text, newsletters, posts, emergency alerts, and direct messaging. One of our favorite features is the integrated translation feature, which enables automatic translations for multilingual families.

MHSHS Website | Mission & Vision | Family Resources | Student & Family Handbook

GCPS Portal | GCPS 23-24 School Calendar | GCPS Newsletter

ParentSquare Resources | My Payments Plus | GCPS News

Tutor.com

Britannica Online School Edition

Driving Test

GCPS Library: Book Selection Ideas

Mano Languages

LinkedIn Learning

McClure Health Science High School

3921 Club Drive, Duluth, GA

770-806-7900

MHSHS Website