February 26, 2020
Mr. Dave Mueller
Principal's Corner

The school marks the beginning of Lent this afternoon with Mass and the distribution of ashes at Guardian Angels Church. As the second reading for today says, may we commit to "be ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us."
 
The student fundraiser for this year is underway, led by Director of Development John Jorden. We are asking students to take the first steps in our school-wide focus on funding a few pilot classroom updates. Adults will be invited to join this effort during McNick at Night. Piloting updates in a few classrooms will help us "road test" alternatives and then identify the best plans for school-wide updates. Catholic education depends on the support of benefactors. We are grateful for the efforts of our students to solicit support for their Catholic education now, and we want them to experience the value of beginning a lifetime commitment to supporting Catholic education for the sake of students who follow them.
 
Governor DeWine plans to convene leaders of the Ohio House and Senate to find a compromise path forward for EdChoice Scholarships. On January 31 the legislature made an eleventh-hour decision to postpone the opening of the application window for EdChoice Scholarships from February 1 to April 1 in order to consider changes to existing law for EdChoice. So far there is an impasse between the two houses of the legislature. I encourage you to write to Governor DeWine with your thoughts about this matter. I suggest that you advocate that the legislation in place before January 31, and on which schools and families relied to make decisions for 2020-21, should remain in place for 2020-21. It is too late for changes for 2020-21. Thank you.
News and reminders

2019-2020 Calendar

Coming up...

Thurs., Feb. 27--
4-bell block day 

Fri., Feb. 28--
MTF Schedule

Mon., Mar. 2--
MTF Schedule

Tues., Mar. 3--
MTF schedule

Weds., Mar. 4--
4-bell block day

Thurs., Mar. 5--
3-bell block day; 2:10 p.m. dismissal

Fri., Mar. 7--
MTF schedule

Planning ahead--Tuesday, March 10 will be a testing day. Freshmen will take the IOWA, sophomores the PSAT - 10, and juniors the ACT (official - scores are reportable to colleges). More information to follow.

2020-21 Registration for Current Families
Registration for current students is open. Packets with scholarship and financial aid award notification were mailed Monday, February 10. Completed enrollment contracts and a registration fee of $850 must be received by Friday, March 6, 2020. The re-enrollment contract is available by  clicking here and scrolling to  Current Family Registration - Class of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

FACTS Tuition Management will manage our tuition collection again next year. FACTS processes payments directly from your financial institution account, credit cards, and bank transfers. You may choose one of these flexible payment options:
  • Pay in Full Plan - due May 15, 2020
  • 2-pay Plan - payments due May and Nov
  • 4-pay Plan - payments due May/Sept/Dec/Mar
  • 10-pay Plan - payments due each month July through April
NEW! Changes to your payment plan option after the 2020-21 enrollment has been submitted can only be accepted after April 1, 2020. Applicable fees will apply. For questions or help setting up your FACTS account, please contact the FACTS 24-hour customer service at 1-866-441-4637. For questions regarding registration, please contact the Finance Office at McNicholas High School at 513-231-3500.

Scholarships for current students
Applications for scholarships for current McNicholas students are due February 28, 2020. Please click here for information on scholarships available and application requirements.

Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Applications for the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program will be accepted through March 13. The Summer Immersion Program teaches rising juniors or seniors the computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. No prior experience in computer science is necessary to apply. In addition to providing a free program, Girls Who Code provides students with free lunch every day and offers summer stipends between $350 and $1200 for students who qualify. The program runs June 15- July 31. Click here for more information.


News from the McNicholas Counseling Department

Summer Gym registration open
Summer gym will be offered summer 2020 to current McNicholas High School students who want to earn their PE I or PE II credit. Summer gym registration opened February 5.   Registration and fee can be turned into the counseling office. Registrations will only be accepted if fee is attached.  Please see attached registration information.  Contact your student's counselor or Mr. Tim Monahan with any questions.

Senior Parents--Information for graduation program needed
As we move closer to graduation, the Counseling Department will be collecting information for the Class of 2020 graduation program. On March 5, March 26, and April 2 during flex bells, seniors will have an opportunity to turn in copies of their military letter of intent, trade school acceptance, college acceptance and/or scholarship information (for all colleges, not just the attending college).  The information is for the graduation program purposes only. Scholarship amounts are published as a whole for the Class of 2020, not individually. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Jennifer Tumser at  jtumser@mcnhs.org  .

WCC Scholarship
The Women's City Club of Greater Cincinnati has established the Agnes Seasongood Education Awards to encourage responsible civic awareness among local female high school seniors. Six $1,000 education awards will be presented.  A one-page essay, along with one letter of recommendation from counselor, teacher or principal, as well as, applicant form should be submitted by noon on Friday, April 10, 2020.  The 2020 essay topic: With the WCC mission in mind, address your ideas about: "Growing in Citizenship: Trusting My Voice and Making It Heard." Click here for more information.

Campus Ministry

Making the Most of this Lenten Season

Pope Francis' Lenten Message

As usual, Pope Francis has written a Lenten message for this year that is simultaneously brief and profound. This year's letter draws inspiration from the words of St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians: "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (5:20). Pope Francis' 2020 Lenten Message can be found
here in its entirety, and we offer the following invitations and resources so that-as Pope Francis encourages--"our Lenten celebration will open our hearts to hear God's call to be reconciled to himself."

Basic Information on the Season of Lent 
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides an abundance of resources for the season of Lent 
here, including a daily calendar that can either be printed or viewed online. In addition, the local Franciscan Media offers a "Lent with the Saints" resource here.

What is Lent? Video Series
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the relief and development organization of the United States Catholic Church, and is motivated by Jesus' example to ease suffering and to inspire charity and justice. For many students, its work is most visibly present in parishes and schools in the United States during the season of Lent through its annual
CRS Rice Bowl initiative. The following brief videos are visually captivating and very effectively "break open" various aspects of what the Lenten season has to offer:

What is Lent? with Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Lent is a Time of Quiet to Hear God's Call to Serve with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Lent is Fasting to Prepare Us for the Feast with Christopher West

Lent is a Journey in Mercy with Kerry Weber

Lent is Practice for a Holy Life with Dr. Carolyn Woo

Lent is a Journey to be Shared with the Body of Christ with Archbishop Jose Gomez

Lent Builds a Foundation So That You Can Serve Others with Archbishop Paul Coakley

Lent is Giving So That Others Might Flourish with Ron Hansen

Lent is Life Changing with Thomas Awiapo
 
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
As a school community, we will enter the Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday at 1:10 pm at Guardian Angels today. As with any all-school liturgy, all members of the extended McNicholas community are invited and welcome to join us as we worship and enter into this season of prayer, fasting, and the giving of alms.

Friday Morning Mass
Fr. Paul Ruwe will be present this Friday, February 28 to celebrate the Eucharist in our school's chapel at 7:00 am. All students, faculty, staff, and parents who are seeking to deepen their commitment to prayer are welcome and invited to be present. 

Encounter the Peace of Christ--Parish Reconciliation Opportunities
On Tuesday, March 24, from 7:00 pm through 9:00 pm, every parish or region in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will have its doors open for quiet prayer and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance. Caring and understanding priests will be available to listen and to witness to healing ministry of Christ. For more information, visit Encounter Peace.org.
On Campus

Student Fundraiser
You've probably heard by now that we are asking our students to help us raise money to kick off this year's Special Appeal. The money we raise will go immediately to modernize and improve our learning spaces, including:
  • flexible seating options
  • the latest technology for each subject
  • dynamic, energy efficient LED lighting
  • enhanced acoustics through flooring and design
  • comfortable environment-including heating and...air conditioning!
We won't raise enough money to do every classroom this year, and that's a good thing because we will test everything out for a year, see what works, get feedback from the students and the teachers, and then scale up to a complete makeover over the next few years. Through a partnership with Loth and Steelcase, we are able to purchase high quality furniture and materials at a steep discount, and they will help us in surveying what works best for McNicholas.

We are asking students to raise $60 each (on average), and if we hit that goal, we will get a day off of school. As an interim goal, if we raise $40 each (on average), we will have a jeans day, and we'll bring in Chick-Fil-A for lunch. There are also prizes for early turn-ins, biggest fundraisers, and class competitions. We've asked the students to be creative and to try to reach outside simply hitting up their parents for the money, so we're also giving up to five prizes for the most creative fundraising pitches.

Latest episode of The McNick Minute
In our latest episode, Bryan speaks with Rachel Jeffries about signing to Youngstown State for Track & Field. Carly discusses the EdChoice Scholarships with Principal Mueller. Ian finds out how other students combat senioritis, and Larry sits down with Mr. Jorden to find out more about McNick at Night and this year's special appeal! Click here to listen.


Athletics

Men's basketball team moves on in tournament
The men's basketball team advances to the sectional final game this Saturday, February 29 at Mason at 7:00 pm vs Purcell Marian.  Presale tickets are available in the athletic office for $6.00.
 
Vote Brunot for Enquirer Athlete of the Week
Senior basketball player Evan Brunot is up for Cincinnati Enquirer's athlete of the week. Brunot had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in the 65-28 win over Bethel-Tate on Feb. 21.   Click here to vote for Evan.
 
Dance Team takes first place

(Left to right) Izzy Mulvey, Zoe Hoffman, and Jenna Kaiser

The Dance Team competed at the Franklin County Invitational in Brookville, IN this past weekend. The group of Zoe Hoffman, Jenna Kaiser, and Izzy Mulvey won first place and earned an Ultimate Star rating in the Senior Ensemble category. Izzy was nominated to compete in a National Competition at NKU in April.

McNicholas seeks head volleyball coach
McNicholas is looking for a head women's varsity volleyball coach for the 2020 season.  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Athletic Director Rob Heise at rheise@mcnhs.org by March 13.  
McNick at Night--Saturday, March 14

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Raffle
Whether you're planning to attend McNick at Night or not, you can still enter our raffle to win a bottle of 12-year-old Van Winkle Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Second and third prizes are Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey and Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. 

 Click here to purchase $25 for one chance or $100 for five chances. For the first 30 people who buy five chances, we'll have a Pappy cigar waiting for you at the event!  Need not be present to win. Must be 21 to purchase.

PTSA

After Prom Art Day
One way that we keep our After Prom costs down is by making most of our decorations. Students and parents of all artistic levels are invited to participate in the After Prom Art Day on Sat., Feb. 29 in Mr. Corbett's classroom. We'll be there from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You can join us for all or part of the day... whatever works for you! Whether you can draw, paint or just cut things out, we'll have a project for you! Student volunteers will receive service hours. Questions? Please email Kirsten Hagenbarth.

Yoga with Goats After Prom 'Fun'draiser

Grab your yoga mat and get your baa-maste on for yoga with 10 - 15 adorable miniature goats and their kids courtesy of YoGoat Cincinnati.

When: Friday, March 27
Session 1: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Session 2: 7:15 - 8:00 p.m. 
Where: Main Gym (or grass under the glass hallway if weather permits) 
Cost: $25 per person We will cap participation at 50 people per session so reserve your spot by mailing or dropping of your payment at the school office. Please write Yoga with Goats on your envelope, indicate which session you will attend, and bring your own yoga mat. Mats will not be provided. Questions? Please contact Kirsten Hagenbarth at khagenbarth@gmail.com.


BW3 After Prom Fundraiser
Does your family dine at BW3 on Beechmont Ave.? Do your students go there after school events? If yes, you can help raise money for After Prom!  Show this BW3 Teammate Card picture to your server when you get your bill and 10% of what you spent will be donated to After Prom. This fundraiser runs through the end of June so plan to use your Teammate card every time you dine at BW3!

Get involved with PTSA!
Click here for a list of our events and meetings. All meetings are open, everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend!

Click here to read minutes from the February 11 meeting.

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