MIHS Newsletter

We’re thrilled to congratulate MIHS Art Teacher, Tim Blair, for being honored with the Golden Apple Award!! Tim was nominated for this honor by his student Leo Gebhardt, a testament to the powerful influence he has had on his students through creativity, mentorship, and passion for art.

This is a special recognition celebrating outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence, dedication, and a meaningful impact on students and our community here in Erie County. This prestigious award highlights teachers who go above and beyond to inspire, engage, and uplift their students, making a lasting difference both inside and outside the classroom.

Thank you, Mr. Blair, for your exceptional commitment to education and for encouraging students to explore their artistic voices. Your impact is truly golden! 🌟

• 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM

March 4 ~ Early Dismissal (High Schools Only)

Please mark your calendar for the following early dismissal dates for HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY

(all other MTSD schools will follow their normal schedules):

· March 4th

· April 24th

The McDowell PTSA is excited to announce their 6th Annual Trivia Night! This is a fun opportunity to support McDowell students and staff while enjoying an evening of friendly competition and community.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Location: Stephany's Catering, Erie, PA
• Team Size: Up to 4 people (gather 3 friends and join a team!)
• Cost: $50 per team
• Format: General knowledge trivia with multiple choice and true/false questions

What to Expect:

• Prizes for the top 3 teams
• 50/50 raffle & basket raffles
• Tipboards, instant games, and more
• BYOB food and drinks (grab dinner on your way!)
• A fun, relaxed atmosphere
• Supporting McDowell students and staff

Limited to 20 teams – register soon before we sell out!
Register Your Team Here

No trivia experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm, team spirit, and a sense of fun! All proceeds benefit the PTSA of McDowell High School and MIHS, making it a night to have fun and give back to our school community.

Student scheduling for the 2026–2027 school year will take place soon! Here are a few important steps and dates to keep in mind.

🗓️ Key Dates to Know

February 23 – March 1
Core subject teachers will enter course recommendations into Infinite Campus.
Students should talk directly with their core teachers if they have questions about these recommendations or if they need approval for an AP elective.

March 2 – March 8
Students will select their elective courses in Infinite Campus.
Encourage your student to:
✔ Choose electives that match their interests and future goals
✔ Review course prerequisites carefully

📍 Need More Information?
Scheduling guides and resources are available on our website: Scheduling Resources.

👩‍🏫 Student Scheduling Conferences

School counselors will meet individually with students to review:
• Core and elective requests
• Grades and credits
• Educational and career plans

9th Grade Conferences
Beginning mid-March, MIHS counselors will meet with 9th grade students.
Students will receive an email with a link to schedule their conference.

10th Grade Conferences
Late March/Early April, the McDowell Senior High counselors will meet with 10th grade students as they prepare for the transition to 11th grade.

📌 What You Can Do Now:
Talk with your student about their goals for next year and remind them to check Infinite Campus during the scheduling window for important information.

McDowell High School is proud to offer a wide range of Advanced Placement® (AP) courses, giving students the opportunity to embrace their potential by tackling college-level coursework while still in high school.

Students can also earn college credit by taking AP classes and performing well on the exams. AP classes not only allow students to learn rigorous content but also help them develop strong study habits, critical thinking skills, and perseverance through the productive challenges of learning alongside peers and teachers.

The upcoming AP Meet & Greet events give students a chance to learn more about AP courses, meet AP teachers, and speak with current AP students about their experiences in the classroom:

• 9th &10th Grade AP Meet & Greet – Wednesday, February 11, during Tutorial in the MIHS Commons
• 11th Grade AP Meet & Greet – Wednesday, February 25, during Tutorial in the McDowell HUB

For parents and guardians, AP Parent Night on Thursday, March 5, from 6:00–7:00 PM in the McDowell HUB is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the AP program, meet AP teachers and students, and explore how AP courses can support college readiness and academic growth.

We encourage students and families to attend these events and discover how AP courses can challenge students, expand their skills, and prepare them for success beyond high school.

After school help is offered in the MIHS Library from 2:25–3:25 p.m. on the following schedule:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: Math
• Wednesdays: General Tutoring, Test Make-Up, and Quiet Student work space

Whether students need additional academic support, time to complete work, or to make up a test, our staff is here to help every student succeed.

Students in 9th and 10th grade taking World Geography or World History are kicking off their career and postsecondary planning with Naviance, a powerful online tool that helps them discover how their strengths, interests, and personality connect to real-world careers. Through quick career assessments and surveys, students can see how what they’re learning now builds toward their future goals.

With Naviance, students can dive into career options, college pathways, and scholarship opportunities that match who they are and what they want to become. Parents are encouraged to log in with their student(s) and explore together!

Each year, students complete specific Naviance tasks designed to guide their career exploration.

· Semester 1 social studies students: Tasks due mid-December

· Semester 2 social studies students: Tasks due late February

Executive functioning skills are brain processes that help individuals complete tasks and achieve goals, and they are involved in nearly everything we do. These skills include multiple interconnected abilities, each playing an important role in managing behavior, attention, and problem-solving. Understanding executive functioning is essential for educators and parents because these skills can be taught and strengthened through everyday strategies and support.

For more information on teaching executive functioning skills: 10 Executive Functioning Skills: The Ultimate Guide - The Pathway 2 Success

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Kim Quirk, School Psychologist (quirk@mtsd.org).

💊 OTC Medications

Students may receive OTC medication up to 14 times per school year under school standing orders (Tylenol, Naprosyn, Ibuprofen, Midol — NO aspirin and no combo medications like Excedrin) ONLY with a parent-signed medication authorization form and parent-provided medication in the original labeled container.

📞 Attendance & Calling Home
Calls home at a student’s request are PARENT-EXCUSED unless the nurse determines a medical dismissal is needed.

📋 10th Grade Physicals
A physical completed in 10th grade CAN count toward the 11th grade mandated requirement. Please send a copy to the nurse’s office.

📲 Infinite Campus Contact Info
Please ensure your student’s parent/guardian contact information in Infinite Campus is current and accurate so we can reach you when needed.

Health Service Policy and Procedures- For more information please visit our website

https://www.mtsd.org/who-we-are/district-offices/health-service/health-service

Thank you for helping us keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn!

Nurse Beth

knight@mtsd.org

P: 814-835-5450

F 814-836-6927

• Spring sports registration is ongoing until Monday, Feb. 23. Sign up online for baseball, softball, track and field, girls’ and boys’ lacrosse, girls' flag football, boys’ tennis, boys’ volleyball, and unified track and field!
• 🏀 Congratulations to boys’ varsity basketball head coach Kevin O’Connor for setting a new program record with 233 wins (and counting!) as the Trojans’ head coach! McDowell defeated Girard 69-48 on Friday, Feb. 6 for his 233rd win. Congratulations to Coach O’Connor on this outstanding accomplishment! 🎉🥳🎈
• It’s district playoff season for our winter sports teams as the Trojans gear up for the postseason. Follow along as our basketball teams, wrestlers, swimmers and divers all compete for District 10 titles and beyond.
• Visit McDowellAthletics.com for the latest schedules, news, and updates from your favorite Trojans teams.

Remember you can purchase your tickets for home events through GoFan Tickets and watch the Trojans compete online via Hudl Fan Live Streams:

• GoFan Tickets (Tickets for individual events will go live one week prior)

• Hudl Live Streams

• Visit the new McDowellAthletics.com for the latest schedules, news, and updates from your favorite Trojans teams

https://www.mcdowellathletics.com/schedule?year=2025-2026

GoFan Ticketing

Tickets for McDowell Athletics events for the 2025 - 2026 season will be exclusively sold digitally and managed via mobile device through GoFan ticketing. All individual event tickets as well as season passes will be conveniently purchasable and accessible via mobile device and GoFan ticket app.

The GoFan ticket app is the easiest and most convenient way to purchase and manage tickets via mobile device. The app is available for free download on both the Apple Store and Google Play.

Create an account and favorite “McDowell High School” so all the events for your favorite Trojan teams can be found quickly and easily.

Season Passes Now Available! Did you know you can get the best value in Trojan sports with a full-season athletics pass? Student passes are just $20 and adult passes are $45, good for all McDowell home events this school year. Visit the [McDowell GoFan page] to purchase.

A reference guide for managing tickets can be found on GoFan’s ticket support website, which includes instructions on how to purchase, transfer, and redeem tickets.

McDowell’s Fashion Sustainability Club, the Leather and Lace Initiative, will host a schoolwide thrift store in the McDowell Intermediate front lobby from April 20–25. The store will be open to students during tutorial and lunch periods and will also welcome community members on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. The event promotes sustainable fashion while raising funds for a nonprofit organization that supports individuals in Erie and beyond. Families are invited to contribute by sending in gently used clothing and jewelry donations with their students. Donations can be dropped off in Ms. Coleman’s room (Intermediate, Room 4-206) or Ms. Inscho’s room (High School, Room 125).

Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) is a one-week summer program in Williamsport, PA, where high school sophomores and juniors learn about business, leadership, and career opportunities through hands-on activities. Students work in teams to run a mock company, make business decisions, and compete with other student-run businesses while gaining real-world experience.

Participants stay on a college campus, hear from business leaders, and build skills in communication, teamwork, and confidence. The program helps students strengthen college applications, explore career interests, and prepare for future success, with scholarships and financial aid available.

See flyers below for more information or visit https://www.pfew.org/

Applications are now open for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Summer Seminar and Summer STEM programs, which offer outstanding opportunities for students to experience life at the Naval Academy and explore future pathways in leadership, service, and STEM fields.

The Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a one-week program designed for rising high school seniors who are interested in learning more about the U.S. Naval Academy. Participants experience the Academy’s rigorous academic environment, athletic expectations, and professional training that help prepare future leaders for service to our nation.

The Summer STEM Program is designed for rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders and provides hands-on learning experiences in math and science. Students work closely with U.S. Naval Academy faculty and midshipmen while participating in engaging STEM-based activities.

Both programs offer students a unique opportunity to explore academic interests, develop leadership skills, and gain insight into life at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Additional information and application details can be found on the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions website at:
https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/index.php

Students who may be interested are encouraged to explore these opportunities and discuss them with their school counselor.

Parents,

Please remember to go onto Infinite Campus and update contact information: Phone numbers, emails, home address, etc.

To avoid unlawful absences that lead to truancy, please submit an excuse within three days of your student’s absence. Excuses may be emailed to mtsdattendance@mtsd.org. All absences from school are considered “unlawful” until the school district receives a written excuse explaining the absence. Students may submit 15 excuses per school year. After 15 excuses have been submitted, medical documentation is required. Visit the quick links on the district website for more information on attendance procedures including online absence request, vacation forms, early dismissal request, and late arrivals. Any questions regarding attendance may be directed to the central attendance office at (814)835-5327 or email at mtsdattendance@mtsd.org.

• You can specify what your child is allowed to purchase on their account by emailing foodservice@mtsd.org. Include your student’s name and the restriction to be placed on their account. Restrictions are general (snacks, second meals, milk) and cannot be specific to a day or item.
• If you do not want your child to be able to charge a lunch to their account when they have run out of funds, you must send an email to foodservice@mtsd.org. The law does not permit us to deny students a meal, so if they run out of money in their account, meals will still be charged to their account and you will be sent a bill.
• Please note that by restricting meal charges to the account, your student will be denied a meal in the cafeteria.
• If your child’s account runs out of funds, they will not be permitted to charge ala carte items: snacks, second meals, milk, etc. They are only permitted to charge one meal each day.

• Refunds can be requested for positive funds in your child’s account by emailing foodservice@mtsd.org. Include your child’s name and the mailing address for the refund.

• Funds can also be transferred between accounts (student to student, student to staff, student to donation account) by emailing foodservice@mtsd.org. Include the names of the student/staff that the funds are from and going to and the amount to be transferred.

MTSD offers Qustodio for all district devices, which offers parents the ability to restrict their student's district device outside of school hours. Qustodio has provided a guide for parents and a FAQ link to their website with helpful tips on how to implement various parental controls. Check out these resources below: