Valery Silva Guzman, a current 9th-grade student recently had the opportunity to share her inspiring journey. Valery was handpicked by the Non-Profit Organization, Be THE Voice to tell her unique story, contributing to their mission of spreading positivity and encouragement, and inclusivity.

👉 Watch Valery's compelling story here and be inspired!

For more details, check out Be the Voice's website: https://www.be-the-voice.org/. Let's celebrate stories that uplift and motivate! 🚀

Big thanks to Sally Taylor for organizing our recent round of mock interviews! The enthusiasm, support, and commitment from everyone involved have truly made this event memorable.

🌐 Connections That Matter: A big shout-out to all who reached out to district leaders and school partners. Your efforts ensured our students had an authentic experience and the chance to make meaningful connections. It's the power of collaboration that fuels our success!

🌟 Student Raves: To those who assisted with the mock interviews, your impact is evident in the rave reviews from our students. The experience and feedback they received will undoubtedly shape their future endeavors. Thank you for contributing to their growth!

🙌 Flexibility & Support: A heartfelt thank you to those who volunteered to be on-call and responded with enthusiasm. Your flexibility and willingness to participate, even on short notice, demonstrate the strength of our supportive community.

🌈 Impressing Our Visitors: As always, our school and students left an indelible impression on our visitors. Your collective efforts and dedication make events like these a success and showcase the excellence of our McClure Health Science community.

Here's to the spirit of collaboration, growth, and making a difference! 🚀✨

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

The next time you go grocery shopping, read the nutrition labels on the items in your cart to see which ones have the most added sugars. You may be surprised to see the amount of added sugars in some drinks.

Sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet. These sweetened liquids include regular soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened waters. The flavored coffees we grab on the way to work and sweet drinks we order when eating out also count as sugary drinks. Adding sugar and flavored creamer to coffee and tea at home counts, too.

People who often drink sugary drinks are more likely to face health problems, such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis.

The latest guidelines recommend that people 2 years and older keep their intake of added sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calories. For example, in a 2,000 calorie diet, no more than 200 calories should come from added sugars. Two hundred calories is about 12 teaspoons of added sugar in food and beverages combined. A 12-ounce regular soda has more than 10 teaspoons of added sugar, adding up to about total 150 calories. CDC research found about 30% of Americans ages two and older eat and drink high amounts of added sugar each day. Cutting out 2 regular sodas per day would reduce total calories by 2,100 in a week.

• Choose water (tap or unsweetened, bottled, or sparkling) over sugary drinks.
  
• Need more flavor? Add berries or slices of lime, lemon, or cucumber to water.
  
• Missing fizzy drinks? Add a splash of 100% juice to plain sparkling water for a refreshing, low-calorie drink.
  
• Need help breaking the habit? Don’t stock up on sugary drinks. Instead, keep a jug or bottles of cold water in the fridge.
  
• Water just won’t do? Reach for drinks that contain important nutrients such as low fat or fat free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; or 100% fruit or vegetable juice first. (NOTE: Before infants are 12 months old, do not give fruit or vegetable juice. Juice after 12 months old is not necessary, but 4 ounces or less a day of 100% juice can be provided.)
  
• At the coffee shop? Skip the flavored syrups or whipped cream. Ask for a drink with low fat or fat free milk, an unsweetened milk alternative such as soy or almond, or get back to basics with black coffee.
  
• At the store? Read the Nutrition Facts label to choose drinks that are low in calories, added sugars, and saturated fat.
  
• On the go? Carry a reusable water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day.
  
• Still thirsty? Learn how to drink more water.
  

Energy drinks are often marketed as products that increase energy. In addition to added sugar, these products may also contain large amounts of caffeine and other legal stimulants. Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks of these products, especially for young people. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up, alternatives to energy drinks include:

• Plain or unsweetened flavored water. Dehydration is often a reason for low energy.
• Unsweetened tea. A number of tea flavors are available in naturally caffeinated varieties that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
• Hot or iced coffee.
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice. There are many types of juices and juice combinations. Find one that you enjoy!
• Whole fruit. Sometimes a snack can give you as much of a boost as a drink.

See more about energy drinks in children and adolescents.

Annual Parent Involvement Survey

Who: Families of students who are receiving special education services

What: Each state is required to conduct a parent survey to measure parent/family perceptions of the success of parent engagement between home and local schools.

When: Available January 16

Where: Parents can complete the survey via the survey link below. We ask that a copy of the attached letter be sent home with every SWD student. Also, we ask that the letter(s) and survey link be posted on your special education teachers' e-class pages and your school website. Our goal is to ensure that all parents are aware of the survey and can have the opportunity to participate.

https://survey.gadoe.org/SPEDParentSurvey/Pages/ParentSurvey.aspx

Click on the file below to read the full list of parent e-Tips.

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