MARAUDERS WEEKLY

January 26

• Silver Day
• COLLEGE & CAREER Day
• 9th Grade ACCEPT Scholar Ceremony, 10AM-12 PM
• LIVESTREAM LINK
• Boys and Girls Basketball vs. Rocky Ford HS, 3:30/5/6:30 PM
• Future Marauder Theme Night
• After School Tutoring, 3:15-4:45 PM

January 27

• Blue Day
• ACCESS Testing CLDE Students
• Fire Drill, 1:30 PM
• After School Tutoring, 3:15-4:45 PM
• Boys & Girls Wrestling @ Walsenburg HS, TBD

January 28

• Orange Day
• After School Tutoring, 3:15-4:45 PM
• Girls Basketball vs. Falcon HS, 6 PM
• Boys Basketball @ Falcon HS, 7 PM
• One Act Festival, "Reunited Shorts" @ Mitchell HS, 6 PM

January 29

• Blue Day
• ACCESS Testing CLDE Students
• After School Tutoring, 3:15-4:45 PM

January 30

• Orange Day: Marauder PRIDE Day
• ACCESS Testing CLDE Students, ALL DAY
• Pikes Peak One-Act Competition @ Pikes Peak State University, ALL DAY
• Girls Basketball @ Sand Creek, 5:30 PM
• Boys Basketball vs. Sand Creek, 5:30 PM
• Community Partner Theme Night
• Girls Wrestling, Canon City Tournament, TBD

• Girls Wrestling, Canon City Tournament, TBD
• Boys Wrestling, Ball Arena Duals, TBD

We are thrilled to host our Inaugural 8th Grade Discovery Day and welcome the next generation of Marauders! It’s been a joy opening our doors, showcasing our school, and connecting with our future students. A big shout‑out to all of our Future Marauders—we can’t wait to see you on campus soon!

Last week, we were excited to host a soft opening of the Marauder Market for staff! A huge thank‑you to our amazing Marauders who helped set up the Market and brought the space to life. Their teamwork, leadership, and pride truly showed as they prepared everything for launch. We appreciate our colleagues who stopped by to support this special milestone—this is just the beginning!

Last week was another energizing and encouraging week at Mitchell High School. On January 21, we hosted our first 8th Grade Discovery Day. We welcomed approximately 150 8th-grade students from Swigert, Galileo, and Sabin to experience the culture, programs, and spirit that support student success at Mitchell. After the Progress Learning PSAT/SAT benchmark in the morning, our student leaders guided the visiting eighth graders through a lively showcase of what it means to be a Marauder.

Throughout the day, students explored our aerospace pathways, engaged with hands-on aviation and drone technology, toured our newly renovated learning spaces, including the historic planetarium, and connected with our passionate staff and talented students. Feedback from our middle school partners was overwhelmingly positive: students described the experience as “cool,” “real,” and “inspiring,” with many saying they could truly imagine themselves at Mitchell in the future.

I want to thank district leadership, namely Superintendent Gaal, our middle school partners, and the Mitchell staff who helped make this day possible. I also appreciate our families and students for your flexibility, enthusiasm, and pride in showing what makes Marauders Nation excellent.

This week, we continue our tradition of honoring top-performing scholars with our second ACCEPT Scholars Award Ceremony of the year. The 9th-Grade ACCEPT Scholar Ceremony will be held on Monday, January 26, recognizing freshman students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. This celebration honors our core values of Achievement, Caring, Courage, Excellence, Perseverance, and Teamwork while supporting on-track for graduation rates.

Invitations have been sent to the families of all qualifying students, who will receive certificates of achievement during the ceremony. Parents, guardians, and family members are encouraged to attend to support their scholars, enjoy refreshments, and capture photos in front of the Mitchell Marauders backdrop. These scholars’ WINS inspire their peers in the Class of 2029 and future classes!

George C. Smith, Principal

The School Accountability Committee (SAC) comprises a dedicated team committed to driving student success and ongoing school improvement. Reverend Michael Bibbs and Alyssa Webb serve as co-chairs for the 2025-2026 school year, bringing strong collaborative leadership that will further strengthen the SAC’s mission. Their guidance is expected to boost parental engagement and foster greater community involvement.

The next SAC meeting will be held at its regularly scheduled time and place, Mitchell High School, on Thursday, February 12, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. For your convenience, a virtual attendance option is also available via the provided link.

We sincerely appreciate everyone who has attended and contributed to the Mitchell High School SAC. Your involvement is vital to our shared success.

For more information, contact our committee:

Co-Chair Michael Bibbs at michaelbibbs039@gmail.com (719) 287-2729

Co-Chair Alyssa Webb at opuswebb@gmail.com (719) 475-7465

DAC Representative Alyssa Webb ... Substitute Representative Sharon Simpson-Dogon

Secretary Sharon Simpson-Dogon at yeswellnessmatters@gmail.com

FUTURE CENTER EVENTS:

Monday, January 26, 2026

Field Trip to UCCS for Helping Professions

8:15am to 2:30pm

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Counselors begin visiting middle schools for 8th to 9th Grade Course Registration

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Peak Education Workshop

10am-11am

Friday, January 30, 2026

FAFSA Friday

Stop by the Future Center during lunch if you still need help with your FAFSA Application

Career Start Program Field Trip to Pikes Peak State College

8:45am-12:10pm

Fun Events:

Life After High School for Seniors

On January 21, 2006, seniors participated in workshops about Financial Planning/Budgeting, Choosing a Major, Trade Paths, Gap Years, and Job Interviewing Skills. It was a very informative day for all the seniors that attended!

Other News:

A Note About College Applications and Post-Secondary Planning:

Senior students still needing help completing their college applications should see Mrs. Montez or Mr. Cooks in the Future Center. If students are not interested in attending college directly after high school, we still need to meet with you! There are lots of other opportunities for students who are interested in apprenticeships, internships, military, etc.

An important note about the FAFSA Application for ALL Seniors:

As part of the required ICAP (Individualized Career and Academic Plan) which is required for graduation, EVERY senior will need to either complete a FAFSA Application and document this in Schoolinks OR indicate in Schoolinks that they will not file a FAFSA Application. Please see Mrs. Montez or Mr. Cooks in the Future Center if you need help with this.

Students With Jobs Outside of School/Potential High School Credit:

For any student who is employed and has not filled out the application for high school credit in Schoolinks, please see Mrs. Montez or Mr. Cooks in the Future Center. Students who work a certain number of hours within a semester can earn high school credits.

A Unique Opportunity for current 10th and 11th Graders:

Impart Charitable will be selecting 250 Colorado students in 10th and 11th Grade and offering them money to jump-start their future. Students can be awarded up to $20,000 each and the money is to be used in specific ways. The deadline to apply is February 6, 2026. More information and the link to the application can be found HERE. If you have questions about this or need help with your application, please see Mr. Cooks or Mrs. Montez in the Future Center.

We want to share an exciting update about college planning for our students.

Our district (D11) is partnering with Match EAB, a college admissions platform used across Colorado. Match offers a Direct Admissions process that helps students discover colleges they already qualify for—making college applications easier and faster.

What this means for students

If a student chooses to create a profile with Match:

• Their high school transcript will be securely shared with Match
• This allows colleges to review eligibility automatically
• It saves time for both students and school counselors

Other nearby districts have seen great results using Match. For example, District 49 and District 2 had over 600 college applications submitted in just one month after participating.

Your choice as a parent

Before any transcripts are shared, families are being notified and given the option to opt out.

• An Opt‑Out Form is attached (this is the same type of form used by nearby school districts)
• If you do not want your student’s transcript shared with Match, you may submit the opt‑out form
• If no form is submitted, the transcript may be shared only if the student chooses to complete a Match profile

A Note About College Applications and Post-Secondary Planning:

Senior students still needing help completing their college applications should see Mrs. Montez or Mr. Cooks in the Future Center. If students are not interested in attending college directly after high school, we still need to meet with you! There are lots of other opportunities for students who are interested in apprenticeships, internships, military, etc.

Students With Jobs Outside of School/Potential High School Credit:

For any student who is employed and has not filled out the application for high school credit in Schoolinks, please see Mrs. Montez or Mr. Cooks in the Future Center. Students who work a certain number of hours within a semester can earn high school credits.

The Future Center would also like to wish all students a great first week back!

Ready To Learn Class Meetings – The Big 3 Reset

This week, our students participated in Ready To Learn class meetings to reinforce the expectations that keep Mitchell High School safe, structured, and focused on learning. As we begin the new semester, we revisited The Big 3 Resets to ensure all students understand the expectations and supports in place.

1. Dress Code – No Hats, Hoodies Up, or Headwear Inside the Building

As a safety precaution and per district guidelines, students may not wear hats, hoodies over the head, or any type of headwear while inside the school building. Maintaining visible faces and clear identification strengthens our overall safety plan.

2. Securly Pass – Required for Any Classroom Exit

All students are required to use Securly Pass any time they leave the classroom—restroom, nurse, or any other destination.

• Students receive 4 passes per day.
• This system helps us monitor student movement, reduce hallway traffic, and protect valuable instruction time.

3. Personal Electronic Devices – Stored in Yondr Pouches

Per Colorado Springs School District 11 Board Policy, students must secure personal electronic devices in their Yondr pouch throughout the school day. This includes:

• Cell phones
• Earphones & AirPods
• Smartwatches
• All other personal electronic devices

Students may also choose to store devices in a secure, locked case in the Discipline Office.

Why Attendance Matters

Attending school every day is one of the most important habits a student can build. According to Attendance Works, regular attendance is a major predictor of academic and social success at every grade level. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to:

• Achieve academically – Regular attendance increases the likelihood of passing core subjects such as reading and math.

• Stay on track for graduation – By high school, chronic absence becomes one of the strongest warning signs for dropping out. Missing 10% or more of the school year—even excused absences—can significantly impact progress.

• Build positive habits and routines – Attendance Works emphasizes that early, consistent attendance helps students develop responsibility, time management, and strong work habits that carry into adulthood.

• Strengthen social and emotional skills – Being present at school allows students to build relationships, participate in the school community, and develop important social skills.

Simply put: Students can’t learn if they aren’t in class. Even a few absences per month can add up quickly and create academic challenges before families realize how much instructional time has been lost.

We appreciate your partnership in ensuring that every student is Ready To Learn every day. If you have questions about any of the Big 3 expectations or attendance support, please contact the Office of Student Discipline & Attendance (719-328-6685).

Last week, CLDE students successfully completed the Listening and Reading portions of the WIDA ACCESS assessment. This week, students will complete the Speaking and Writing sections.

If a student is absent during their scheduled testing time, they will coordinate with their CLDE teacher to complete make-up testing.

Please reach out to Ms. Silva or Ms. Lavery with any questions. Thank you for supporting our students as they demonstrate their language growth and skills.