The Pulse Post Dec 1st- Dec 5th

Dear McClure Health Science High School Families,

As we prepare to close out the semester and head into the holiday break, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to our students, families, and staff. Your support, resilience, and commitment to our school community continue to make McClure Health Science High School a truly special place.

This season is a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect. I wish each of you a safe, joyful, and restful break surrounded by loved ones. Whether you are traveling, celebrating traditions, or simply taking time to recharge, I hope the days ahead bring warmth, peace, and connection.

We also know many families are eagerly awaiting information about graduation. I’m happy to share that our Graduation announcement will be posted this Friday. Please keep an eye out for details as we celebrate this important milestone for our seniors.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us “Awaken the Wonder” in every student who walks through our doors. We are grateful for your trust and support, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a strong start to the new year.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season. 💙

Let’s come together again to connect, collaborate, and spark ideas that uplift our MHSHS community. This open forum welcomes families and community members to help us continue nurturing the wonder that makes MHSHS extraordinary.

🗓️ Friday, November 21, 2025

🕒 12-1PM
📍Virtual: Join the Meeting Now (Meeting ID: 230 431 303 650 2/ Passcode: AH9nu3na)

This past week, we hosted a Native American Pop-Up Museum in the Media Center, featuring books, artifacts, and primary sources provided by the Northeast Georgia History Center. This hands-on exhibit offered students and staff a meaningful opportunity to explore the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities.

Teachers brought classes for guided tours and curriculum-connected lessons, and many students stopped by before school and during lunch to explore the displays on their own. The museum sparked curiosity, discussion, and deeper appreciation for Indigenous history and perspectives.

Thank you to everyone who visited and helped make this educational experience a success!

The Pulse Dance Company lit up the MHSHS Auditorium on November 14 with an unforgettable Spotlight performance! Dancers poured their heart, technique, and creativity into every routine, captivating the audience from the opening number to the final bow.

The show highlighted the incredible talent within our Pulse community—beautiful choreography, powerful storytelling, and inspiring student leadership were on full display. Families, staff, and students packed the auditorium to cheer on our performers, making it a truly special night.

A huge congratulations to our dancers and to the dedicated staff who brought this vision to life. Thank you for giving us an evening filled with artistry, energy, and pure MHSHS magic! 💙✨

This week, our Health Science Observatory transformed into a vibrant gallery as we opened the MHSHS Art Show, showcasing the incredible artistic talent of our students. From expressive paintings to creative mixed-media pieces, every artwork reflects the imagination, skill, and voice of our young artists.

Staff and students who stopped by on opening day enjoyed a relaxed walk-through of the exhibit, and many took home a free original artwork generously created by members of the National Art Honor Society. For anyone who missed the opening, the gallery will remain open through December 12, offering plenty of time to enjoy the display at your own pace.

We’re so proud of our student artists for bringing beauty, creativity, and inspiration to our school community. Don’t forget to stop by and experience the amazing work on display!

The blood drive on 11/19 was an incredible success thanks to the generosity of our McClure community. We collected 40 units of Whole Blood and 1 unit of Double Red Blood Cells and welcomed an amazing 38 first-time donors. Once processed, these donations will help support up to 123 patients in local hospitals , a truly meaningful impact.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Mitchell, Mr. Marinelli, our outstanding student helpers, and all students and staff who donated. Your commitment to helping others is what makes MHSHS special.

Thank you for saving lives! 💙

Our annual Turkey Trot was a huge success, with students, staff, and families coming together for a spirited race to kick off the holiday season! Participants sprinted, jogged, and walked their way through the course, and the top runners were awarded a special prize: a Thanksgiving turkey!

Congratulations to our fastest runners who earned their very own turkey–enjoy your well-deserved feast! 🍗🎉

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event so much fun. We love seeing our Pulse community stay active and engaged, and we can’t wait for next year’s Turkey Trot!

Through this powerful hands-on lesson, students pedaled carts through a driving course, then put on impairment goggles that simulated the visual distortion and delayed reaction time someone experiences when under the influence. Students then attempted the course again, allowing them to clearly see how dangerous and difficult driving becomes when impairment is involved.

After the activity, Officer Carter spoke with students about safe driving practices and the real-world consequences of impaired driving. A huge thank you to Officer Carter and Ms. Sprayberry for organizing our first-ever Impaired Driving Safety Lesson. This was an incredible learning experience for our students and an important step in helping them make safe, informed choices. 💙

Students in Mrs. Baker’s AP Human Geography class brought their creativity and cultural curiosity to life through this week’s Culture Museum Exhibition! Using digital and trifold displays, students showcased global traditions, personal heritage, and even imaginative sci-fi worlds. During a gallery walk, they asked thoughtful questions and shared the inspirations behind their work.

We are proud to highlight the outstanding projects created by: Jayden Azu, Pia Lathiya, Greydis Velasquez, Paula Vrabelova, Alyssa Luu, Hoorayn Rawasia, Ebrima Kijera, Jayden Chen, Aiden Nguyen, Maddie Willoughby, and Rico Walton.

Their voices, stories, and creativity made this learning experience truly meaningful.

This past week, the Counseling Department & HoPe Club hosted Free Money Friday, a special event dedicated to helping students explore scholarships and financial opportunities for college. Through an interactive presentation and easy-to-follow resources, students learned how to search for scholarships, stay organized with deadlines, and create strong, competitive applications.

Events like this ensure our students feel supported and confident as they plan for life after high school—because at MHSHS, every student deserves access to “free money” opportunities that open doors for their future. 💙🎓

Last week, GCPS hosted the Fine Arts Expo at the Aurora Theater, celebrating the incredible creativity of students across the district through short films and visual art. McClure Health Science High School was proud to have four student-produced short films selected for this special showcase.

Congratulations to Tara Pham, Mohammed Ahnaf, Jaquelynne Montanez-Guadian, Leyla Rogers, Sage Rogers, Yulissa Gonzalez Diosdado, and Beckham Duong for having their films featured on the big screen! Their talent, hard work, and storytelling were truly inspiring.

A special shout-out to their AVTF teacher, Mr. Baker, whose guidance, encouragement, and expertise helped bring these powerful projects to life.

We are so proud of our Pulse Creators! 💙🎥✨

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Join us for “Unlocking the Future: The Power of Mathematics for Your Child's Success,” a virtual event where you'll learn effective strategies to support your child's growth as a mathematician and problem solver. Discover valuable tips that can help your child excel in mathematics and explore how real-world applications can enhance their learning and unlock their full potential.

This engaging event is designed for families of students from K-12

• Elementary Session-

• Number Ninjas: Building Mathematical Confidence in Pre-K to 1st Grade Learners

• Math Marvels: Strengthening Problem-Solving Skills for 2nd and 3rd Graders

• Mathematical Masterminds: Advanced Thinking Strategies for 4th and 5th Graders

  
  

• Middle/High School Session-

• Financial Literacy for Student Success

• Math in Motion: Problem Solving and Real-World Application for Middle/High School Students

• Career Pathways in STEM and Finance

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French.

Click here to RSVP

or

Direct Registration Link:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b958f110-69d7-477e-9d03-127fe89329c2@7de65cf9-3f2e-4e67-a469-965b0d085fbb

If your student arrives late to school, they will need to scan their Student ID barcode in order to receive a tardy pass. Students can access their barcode easily in StudentVUE:

1. Log into StudentVUE.
2. Click the ID icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Swipe up to display the Student ID barcode.

Please encourage your student to practice accessing their barcode ahead of time so check-in can be quick and smooth!

Link HERE

Families, please remember that students must be picked up within 15–30 minutes after an event concludes. Late pickups may result in students losing the privilege to participate in future after-school activities.

To keep dismissal safe and efficient during after-school events (such as Pink Out, Hispanic Heritage Festival, International Night, Black History Month Cookout, etc.) , please review our pick-up plan and traffic flow map before you arrive.

To help ensure smooth dismissal, please review our After-School Pick-Up Map and Plan below:
📍 View Pick-Up Plan / Map

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and ensure that events run smoothly and on time!

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Gwinnett County Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.75; lunch costs $2.50 for elementary and $2.75 at middle and high schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. The following information includes an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits and a set of detailed instructions. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

• All children in households receiving benefits from Georgia SNAP or TANF are eligible for free
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Chart. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

1. Free or reduced meal prices for a healthy, nutritious student meal.

2. Additional funding for technology and internet access.

3. Discounts on fees associated with the college application process.

4. Discounted fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams along with other scholarship opportunities.

5. Increased funding to support education.

Everyday, Chick-fil-A sells lunch during all lunch periods, Monday–Friday.

Menu items include:

• Chick-n-Strip™ Slider – $3.50

• Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap® (Half) – $4.50

Payments accepted: Cash or Card.

💌 Pulse Posts – Sent every Friday via ParentSquare with updates, reminders & celebrations

📱 Follow Us on Instagram:

• @mhshs.9thgrade
• 9th Grade Highlights
• @mcclurehealthsciencehigh
• School-wide News & Events

📆 Check the School Calendar:

• 🔗Linked Here

Stay informed about important dates, breaks, and events

🗣️ Talk to Your Student:
Ask about what they're learning and how they're adjusting

📖 Family Engagement Tips

Check out these tips on how to engage with your student at home: 2025 eTips

MHSHS Website | Student & Family Handbook | GCPS Portal | GCPS 25-26 School Calendar |

GCPS News |

McClure Health Science High School

3921 Club Drive, Duluth, GA

770-806-7900

MHSHS Website

The Back-to-School Guide is a digital resource with district information about the new school year. Previously called the “Virtual Back-to-School Backpack,” the Back-To-School Guide will be available after July 11, 2025, by clicking HERE