December 2025 Academic Newsletter

Visual Design-The freshmen class will complete a 3D colored pencil drawing designed to be viewed with red and blue glasses. They will also begin developing foundational watercolor techniques as they explore new approaches to color and visual depth. They will conclude the month by beginning our Pop Art unit.

Art Design- Over the next several weeks, students will focus on creating handmade items as they prepare for their end-of-year craft booth. With opportunities for student choice built into the process, each learner can select the projects and mediums that interest them most, including candle making, crocheting, wood burning, rock and planter painting, and mirror etching. In addition to building a wide range of creative and technical skills, students will also explore basic art entrepreneurship—planning products, considering pricing, and presenting their unique pieces for showcase and sale.

Ceramics and Sculpture- This month, the ceramics class will continue glazing previously completed clay projects. Students will also create hand-built cups along with an independent clay project of their choice, allowing them to apply newly learned techniques and express their individual creativity. Throughout the unit, they will refine foundational clay skills and build confidence in their craftsmanship. To conclude the unit, each student will participate in an introduction to the pottery wheel, preparing the class to transition to wheel-thrown clay projects next.

Mass Media: Yearbook students are finalizing the fall sports pages before the end of the first semester, showing their dedication and strong work ethic. As they wrap up the first semester, they are also helping take pictures at various school events to ensure the yearbook captures all the important moments of the year.

Coding: Students are learning to use Micro:bits. Micro:bits are small, programmable mini-computers designed to help students learn coding and electronics in a fun way. Micro: bits help students understand how software can control real-world hardware through simple, hands-on projects. By experimenting with sensors, LEDs, and wireless communication, students see immediate results from their code, which builds confidence and problem-solving skills.

Personal Finance: Students are learning how to identify the right career path and develop strategies to land a job they truly enjoy. After discovering career paths, they will also learn about the variety of educational options available after high school, the dangers of student loans, and how to avoid college debt. Additionally, they explore practical tips for building a strong résumé and presenting themselves confidently during job interviews to increase their chances of success.

Dual Credit Computers and Information Systems: Students are learning about the different features in PowerPoint, including how to add slides, insert images, and apply transitions and animations. They are also exploring tools to enhance presentations, such as charts, videos, and design themes, to make their work more engaging and professional.

FBLA: FBLA members participated in a Thanksgiving Dining Etiquette event, where they learned important skills for professional settings. Jill Brown, guest speaker, taught them proper dining etiquette, including how to place napkins, which silverware to use, how to sip soup, and how to eat bread. It was a great night of learning and practicing these valuable skills. Members will also participate in a Christmas party with FFA and FCCLA. FBLA students are preparing for their upcoming contests, scheduled for January.

Integrated Science 9 (Physical Science) - Physical Science has two main components: Chemistry and Physics. Our last chapter of chemistry studies the periodic table. From Mendeleev to the modern-day table, we will look at how and why the elements are ordered and behave the way they do.

Chemistry - Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. We are wrapping up mixtures with a fun chromatography lab the first week and then will begin our study of the atom - literally the stuff that makes us!

Biology - Biology, or life science, will provide students with the knowledge of the nature of living things. Cellular respiration is up next, the opposite reaction of photosynthesis. Investigating the cycling of energy and matter in ecosystems will lead us nicely into cell growth and division late in the month.

Anatomy - Human anatomy is the study of the body, its parts and their locations. Our class skeleton, McRibs, will be our helpful mascot for the remainder of the quarter as we continue our deep dive into the skeletal system.

Earth Science - Earth Science is the name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space. We are finishing our review of Earth's many valuable resources. This sets the stage for us to understand the power of the next few chapters: the forces within. These include earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain building.

Pre-Algebra - We will be working on linear equations along with systems of linear equations to find intersection points.

Algebra 1 (Soph.) - We will be working on quadratic equations and how to solve them. Along with factoring quadratic equations.

Geometry - We will be working to prove triangles congruent and how this helps us with construction, especially with roofs.

Algebra 2 - We will wrap up rational expressions by working on solving them. We will then move on to operations with functions.

Applied Math - We are working on making scale drawings. We are using the school as our model and working to make a scale drawing that will hang on every door with escape routes.

Life Skills - We will wrap up this semester of the class working on parallel parking and backing up a trailer.

Statistics - The students will be using t-distribution to analyze data sets. The students will use sample size to determine what distribution will be used to analyze the data set.

Criminal Justice - Students just finished with the history of policing. They now will look further into police organization, role, and function. Such topics include patrol, investigation techniques, community policing, and improving police productivity.

Creative Writing - Students writing their original short stories. After completion, the class will have all written poems and short stories collected into a classroom publication.

Psychology - Students will participate in an experiment that highlights how we heighten a sense when another sense is taken away. They will then begin examining the differences between learning principles, focusing mainly on classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning.

In December the World History class will learn about the French Revolution. We will connect Enlightenment Ideas to the causes of the Revolution and examine long term impacts. In American History we will look at the early 20th Century and build up to World War I, which we will discuss when we return from Christmas Break. The Sophomore Leadership Class is busy preparing their service project which will be a Christmas Movie Party for the rest of the high school. Current Events continues to learn about seeking out quality news sources through researching a variety of news topics.

HS Music Appreciation- This group has started learning how to play piano in November, and will continue to work on this going into December.

Panther Band- Continuing to prepare for the Winter Concert on December 9th. They have been hard at work to prepare a great concert for everyone. Following the concert, this group will prepare for basketball Pep Band season, the first game they perform at is December 16th.

Greenhouse class is constructing greenhouses out of popsicle sticks and plastic wrap. Three designs are even span, uneven span and A frame.

Second hour and fourth hour are starting Entomology and studying the orders of insects.

Ag Construction has been designing and painting barn quilts.

Ag 1 class is practicing conducting an FFA meeting by acting in the various offices.

Foods Class:

We will be having a cake decorating contest this month. Students will design their style of cake with a Christmas theme in mind. Be sure to check out the school Facebook page to cast your vote once they are uploaded!

8th grade:

The students will learn all about kitchen tools and their uses. They will also learn how to measure different kinds of foods with different measuring tools. We are making Christmas cookies and treats. We will enjoy some of them, and the rest will be donated to businesses in town or classrooms.

Housing:

We are also constructing a graham cracker house in this class. We will be setting these up in the High School hallway. The class will make a google form for the students to vote on their favorite house. The winner will be announced 4th hour on Dec. 18th!

Health:

We are finishing off this semester class with a chapter on mental and emotional health.

Nutrition and Wellness:

We are finishing up on Chapter 7 The Cook’s Tools. They are learning all about the uses of kitchen equipment and tools. We will be making Christmas cookies and treats in this class as well.

Interpersonal Relationships:

In Chapter 7, we will be discussing the communication process. Students will be able to identify different forms of nonverbal communication and verbal communication. They will demonstrate effective speaking and listening skills.

Child Development II:

This month the students are learning about children from ages 1 to 3. They will be able to identify changes of a child's physical growth from these ages and how developmental milestones are used. Students will also learn how a parent should respond to typical changes in a child's sleeping patterns and why it is important to establish good eating habits early in life.

FCCLA:

We will have a Christmas party with Mr. Dignan and his FFA organization in our building. We registered 10 students to participate in the Regional STAR events that will take place next month at NWMSU. We are also hosting buff volleyball on Dec 10th.

December Plan of Action

Freshmen (ELA 1)

To close out the quarter, students will analyze a variety of text structures and practice writing using multiple organizational patterns.

Standards Addressed

• R.1.A.9-10 – Comprehend, analyze, and evaluate the structure of texts.

• W.2.A.9-10 – Produce clear, coherent writing suited to task, purpose, and audience.

• W.3.A.9-10 – Write routinely for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Sophomores (ELA 2)

Students will deepen their understanding of text structure and apply this knowledge by writing an original one-scene play.

Standards Addressed

• R.1.A.9-10 – Analyze how structural choices contribute to meaning and style.

• W.1.A.10 – Use narrative techniques—including dialogue, pacing, and description—to develop experiences and events.

• W.2.A.10 – Produce writing appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Juniors (ELA 3)

Students will continue reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind while examining how authors use the rhetorical triangle—ethos, pathos, and logos—to persuade audiences. They will demonstrate mastery by writing a rhetorical analysis of a speech.

Standards Addressed

• R.3.A.11-12 – Analyze rhetorical appeals and techniques in texts.

• R.2.A.11-12 – Determine an author’s purpose or point of view and evaluate the effectiveness of the rhetoric.

• W.2.A.11-12 – Write informative or explanatory texts that clearly convey complex ideas.

Seniors (ELA 4)

Students will continue the military unit by analyzing a range of texts—art, songs, speeches, poetry, and film. They will conclude the unit by interviewing someone connected to the military and writing a comprehensive report synthesizing insights from the book, guest speakers, film, and additional materials.

Standards Addressed

• SL.1.A.11-12 – Participate effectively in collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas.

• W.2.A.11-12 – Write informative/explanatory texts to convey complex ideas.

• R.3.C.11-12 – Evaluate how diverse media and formats contribute to understanding an issue or topic.

• W.3.A.11-12 – Conduct research to answer a question or solve a problem.

Strength & Conditioning - Weights

Athletic Conditioning - Speed/Agility/Flexibility/Stability

Freshmen:

Daelynn Yocum and Jaxon Edwards

Sophomores:

Peyton Farr and Cade Tubbs

Juniors:

Jaylynn Wilmes and John Gard

Seniors:

Kiley Caton and Ernest Peters

Congratulations! And thank you for representing yourself, your families, and our school the right way in the classroom!

December is officially here! Our finals schedule will be December 17th, odd hours (1,3,5,7) and December 18th, even hours (2,4,6,8). December 19th will be a big Panther Family Olympics contest we are currently planning for. Our staff is very excited about it. I wanted to remind everyone of our finals opt out policy:

● 98% and higher: opt out of all finals-->allows approximately 1 ½ days

● 96%-97% opt out of 4 finals-->allows approximately 3 ¼ days

● 94%-95% opt out of 1 final-->allows approximately 4 ¾ days

● Anything below 94% attendance, automatically take ALL finals

● Any class with a semester grade below B- (80%), automatically take that final

** NO ISS/OSS or more than 3 tardies in a 1 quarter

**Attendance is based on days and hours, so the number of days is an estimate. Attendance percentage will be rounded to the nearest percent

**Attendance percentage is based on OVERALL attendance at school, excused AND unexcused. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Attendance will be taken and used to determine this through December 16th.

It is a very busy time so please utilize the newsletter and information provided on our app to stay up to date. If anyone has questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact the HS Office or email me at jake.shipman@mndcty.org. I hope everyone has a great month of December!

Email: jake.shipman@mndcty.org

Website: https://www.mndcty.k12.mo.us/