The Pulse Post Oct 6th-Oct 10th

Happy Friday Pulse Families,

As we move into October, I want to share some important updates and celebrations with you:

✨ Highlights & Reminders:

Graduation Rate

The Georgia Department of Education has released the state’s graduation rates, and we are proud to share that MHSHS has once again achieved the highest graduation rate among Title I high schools in GCPS with 92.7%.

This achievement places us above both the state and district averages and reflects the unwavering commitment of our students, staff, and families to academic excellence. We are honored to be recognized at the GCPS Board of Education Business Meeting on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM, alongside other schools that earned graduation rates of 90% or higher.

National Recognition

MHSHS has once again been ranked as one of the Best High Schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report—a reflection of the hard work and excellence of our students and staff.

Evolv & Updated Check-In/Check-Out Procedures
This week marked week one of the Evolv Weapons Detection System at McClure Health Science. We are so proud of how smoothly our students have adjusted and the great job they’ve done with this new safety measure.

Morning Arrival & Safety Reminders

• Parents, subs, and visitors may not enter the bus lane area until after 6:55 AM to ensure student safety and smooth bus operations.

• All visitors should enter through the front entrance.

• Check Ins and Check Outs have moved to the front entrance. Please also note our updated check-in/check-out procedures, which are available on this week’s Pulse Post.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient process for all.

E-SPLOST
On November 4, 2025, Gwinnett voters will decide whether to renew E-SPLOST for another five years. E-SPLOST provides essential funding for school renovations, technology, and improvements across the county. Everyone who shops in Gwinnett County contributes to this important effort, which must be approved by a majority of voters. More information about E-SPLOST can be found here.

Thank you for your partnership and continued support. Together, we are building a safe, student-centered, and thriving school community.

Yours in Service,
Dr. Hernandez

Congratulations to Assistant Principal Mrs. Jessie Zaretsky, who has been admitted into the Quality Plus Leader Program – Aspiring Principal’s Program (APP). This highly competitive program selects only a limited number of leaders across the district each year. Mrs. Zaretsky’s acceptance reflects her outstanding leadership, commitment to excellence, and dedication to our school community. We are proud to celebrate this incredible accomplishment!

Congratulations to our top 3 EVOLV Quizizz scorers:
🥇 Amariah Small
🥈 Jaden Chen
🥉 Intisa Afra

Their classes enjoyed a very special pop-up celebration, and each winner received their own prize! 🏆✨

We are so proud of their hard work, focus, and dedication. Way to Feel the Pulse and set the bar high! 💙

October 1st was officially proclaimed Jimmy Carter Day. To honor the life and legacy of the 39th President, Gwinnett hosted an art and essay contest, selecting 39 works to be exhibited across three venues in Gwinnett County. In addition, three grand prize winners would be chosen to have their work displayed at the Carter Center in Atlanta through December 1st.

We are proud to share that 18 McClure Health Science High School students were selected, including one grand prize winner! Sheyla Argueta-Leal’s artwork will be showcased at the Carter Center, while 17 honorable mentions will be featured at the Norcross Public Library, the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Building, and Best Friend Park. All artworks can be seen online on the Gwinnett County Government's virtual gallery.

Congratulations to:

39 Winners

3 Grand Prize Winners

Congratulations to these talented students and to their teacher, Linn Zamora, for this outstanding achievement!

On National Custodian Day, we had the joy of celebrating our incredible custodial team who work tirelessly to keep our school running smoothly each day. Not only did our custodians receive thoughtful gifts, but they were also honored in a truly special way thanks to a partnership between our HoPe Club and Journalism class. Together, students created a heartfelt video, complete with bios of each custodian written in both their native language and in English.

The celebration became even more meaningful when we surprised our team with a visit from a former student, Alvaro Arcila Saldariaga. Alvaro shared how telling the story of his friendship with our custodian José Antonio helped him earn a significant scholarship, and he returned to personally thank our custodians for the impact they have had on his life.

It was a beautiful reminder that their hard work, kindness, and relationships with students make a lasting difference.

👉 Check out the video here!

We are so proud of our Lady Pulse athletes as they took the court with Meadowcreek High School! Their teamwork, determination, and school pride were on full display as they battled every point with energy and heart. Each game is another chance for our players to grow, push their limits, and represent McClure with excellence.

Way to go, Lady Pulse—your hard work and dedication inspire us all! 💙

Last night, we celebrated the largest Academic Letter Night in McClure history! 🎉 Our incredible 10th, 11th, and 12th grade scholars were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and commitment to excellence.

We are so proud of these students who continue to set the standard for hard work, determination, and success. Their accomplishments reflect the very best of what it means to be a part of the Pulse. 💙📚✨

Congratulations to all of our honorees—you inspire us every day!

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, the perfect time to unlock all the resources your local public library has to offer. Did you know every GCPS student already has access to the Gwinnett County Public Library system—late fine-free and ready to use? Their school ID doubles as a library card, giving them access to books, audiobooks, movies, Learning Labs, and digital resources like Tutor.com for homework help.

Parents and guardians can sign up for their own library card too. Visit the Gwinnett County Public Library website to apply online and explore everything the library has to offer.

If you or your student have questions about resources through the public library, feel free to reach out to Laura Sly at laura.sly@gcpsk12.org.

Your Voice Matters! Take the GCPS School Calendar Survey Before October 8!

Gwinnett County Public Schools is reviewing school calendar features for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years. Families, staff, students in grades 6–12, and community members are invited to share feedback.

Every calendar sample being reviewed meets state and district requirements, including:

• 180 school days and 190 staff workdays (per state law)
• Required holidays (per GCPS Policy GBRI)
• 2 early release days per semester for ES/MS; 3 for HS (final exams)
• One week each for Thanksgiving and Spring Break
• Semester 1 ending before Winter Break, and Semester 2 ending before Memorial Day

Take a few minutes to complete the survey and help shape the future school calendar for our students and staff. The survey will close on October 8.

Fall Break!

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Tuesday, October 14 – PSAT Student Readiness Check

• All 10th and 11th grade students are scheduled to take the PSAT on 10/22.

• To prepare, 10th and 11th grade students will complete the readiness check and pre-administration during Advisement.

• Teachers provide student tickets and distribute them in Advisement.

• These student tickets provide students the opportunity to utilize practice assessments on their own time leading up to the PSAT on 10/22.

• Tuesday, October 14 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | Commons

  All seniors and their parents are invited to attend our FAFSA Night Workshop. Families will receive guidance on completing the FAFSA and have the opportunity to begin the application during the session.

  This is an important step in securing college financial aid — we encourage all senior families to attend! 🎓💻

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Mark your calendars! Our Hispanic Heritage Festival will take place on Thursday, October 17th, from 2:30–4:30 PM on the Intramural Field. 🎉 This event will be a celebration of culture, community, and connection, featuring music, food, and fun for students and families.

We’d love to partner with local Latin restaurants or businesses to make this celebration even more special. If you know of a restaurant or business interested in joining us, please email Lena.Alonso@gcpsk12.org with their contact information.

Let’s come together to celebrate the richness and diversity of our Hispanic community! 💃🎶

Mark your calendars! The HoPe Club is hosting a Car Wash Fundraiser on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the McClure Health Science HS Front Entrance

Tickets are just $5 each and can be purchased in advance through GoFan. Each ticket covers one standard vehicle wash.

Come out, get your car sparkling clean, and support our HoPe student leadership projects. Your participation helps our students continue to lead and serve our community.

💙💛 Thank you for supporting McClure students—see you at the car wash!

• October 22 – PSAT Day 📝
  Students will be participating in the Preliminary SAT (PSAT).

The upcoming Soccer Cup Tournament is sponsored by the HoPe Club and Boys to Men Club—but it’s open to ALL students who want to play!

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 24th, 2025

🕑 Time: 2:00–4:00 PM

📍 Location: McClure Health Science High School Intramural Field

If you’re interested in joining a team, please fill out this form: 👉 Soccer Tournament Sign-Up Form Come show your skills, support your friends, and enjoy an afternoon of fun competition!

On 10/31, students and staff can dress up for Page to Stage Day!

Participation is optional.

Let’s celebrate with spirit, creativity, and fun! 🎃✨

Help shape a library that reflects the voices, interests, and needs of our entire school community! We’re inviting parents and community members to join the MHSHS Media Committee—a collaborative team of administrators, teachers, students, and families working together to guide our library’s collection and programming.

We’ll kick things off with an optional in-person meeting in September, then stay connected throughout the year via email. If you’d like to have a voice in the future of our Media Center, we’d love to hear from you!

Please email Laura Sly at laura.sly@gcpsk12.org for more information.

Join us for “Unlocking the Future: The Power of Literacy for Your Child's Success,” on October 15th, a virtual event full of tips to help your child grow as a reader and writer. Learn strategies to help your child with reading and writing, and explore how technology and AI can support their learning.

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

• Elementary Session-

• Inspiring Young Minds: Literacy Strategies for Pre-K to 1st Grade Learners

• Building Strong Foundations: Literacy Techniques for 2nd and 3rd Graders

• Empowering Upper Elementary: Literacy Skills for 4th and 5th Graders

  
  

• Middle/High School Session-

• Artificial Intelligence and Literacy for Tomorrow's Leaders

• Fueling Passion: Keeping Middle and High School Students Engaged in Reading

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/5b0266a9-74b9-46a3-b4b7-fabde234c566@7de65cf9-3f2e-4e67-a469-965b0d085fbb

• Session 1- Inspiring Young Minds: Literacy Strategies for Pre-K to 1st Grade Learners: 6:10 - 6:20

• Session 2- Building Strong Foundations: Literacy Techniques for 2nd and 3rd Graders: 6:25-6:45

• Session 3- Empowering Upper Elementary: Literacy Skills for 4th and 5th Graders

• Session 4- MS/HS Unlocking the Future: Artificial Intelligence and Literacy for Tomorrow's Leaders: 7:15- 7:35

Click here to RSVP

• When: Saturday, October 25 (2025)

• What: 5K benefiting the GCPS Book Mobile

• Perks: Runners 18 and under get a free book

• School Challenge: The school with the most participants wins a Book Mobile visit

• Register: bookmobile5k.com (QR code available on the flyer)

The MHSHS School Counseling Department is seeking new members for its 25-26 School Counseling Advisory Council. The purpose of the council is to provide feedback on the school counseling program goals, review school counseling program results, make recommendations for the school counseling program, and serves as an advocating tool for the school counseling program itself.

Input from all stakeholders (parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members) is crucial to the development and success of our school counseling program. There are only TWO meetings yearly - one per semester. Please consider joining us for the 25-26 school year!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc89TwLosN1akKsAnpKNSlqN4cxVqzX8IkytDvdrNnIhU8HlQ/viewform?usp=dialog

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

Click here

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.

Starting next week, Chick-fil-A will be selling 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

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

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