PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER March 8, 2019 We’re celebrating BIG this week, Vikings! As you have probably heard by now, our beloved math teacher, Mr. Greg Murach, has been awarded 2019 HOWARD COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR!!!! Dr. Martirano surprised Mr. Murach yesterday, and we had a celebration for him in the Media Center with many of his students, his family, staff members, and community members. This is such an incredible honor for both Mr. Murach and our school, and I still get emotional just thinking about it. The selection process for Teacher of the Year is very competitive and includes a multi-part application, classroom observation, initial interview and second interview with Dr. Martirano. On behalf of Mr. Murach, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the efforts of our remarkable PTSA President, Ms. Bodziak, and Ms. Nolan, both of whom were instrumental in reviewing and revising multiple iterations of our application. Ms. Brittany Gutierrez, our math ITL, wrote a beautiful letter of support, as did countless students, staff and community members. And over and over, I heard the same message, “This was an easy letter to write because Mr. Murach is so deserving.” I couldn’t agree more, so allow me to share a few excerpts from my own letter of support: It is an honor to recommend Mr. Greg Murach for Teacher of the Year. Mr. Murach is a hardworking, caring teacher, a natural leader amongst peers, and is dedicated to serving others in and beyond the classroom. He is a role model teacher, sponsor and mentor at Mt. Hebron High School, a majority- minority school with an economically and culturally diverse student population. Not only does he work hard, he attacks every task with excellence. Mr. Murach is brilliant, creative, exudes warmth, compassion and understanding. His peers and teachers highly respect him. We are fortunate to have Mr. Murach as a mathematics teacher at Mt. Hebron High School. Mr. Murach is all about students, and he continually pursues instructional practices and strategies to engage all learners in his classroom. He developed a co-taught ESOL Algebra I class, integrating native languages and math. Multiple students facing challenges such as interrupted education, cultural transitions, language barriers, and socio-economic instability attained passing PARCC scores due to his creative teaching methodology. He is involved in many facets of Mt. Hebron High School that have a positive impact on our students, staff and the community. His initiative and drive enables our clubs and organizations to be successful, thrive, and establish traditions at our school. Mr. Murach, a leader by nature, inspires his peers to become involved. His character and values are evident in everything he is involved in at school and in the community. He takes pride in everything he attempts; he makes intelligent decisions; he is determined to do his best; and his effort and energy are boundless. This win for Mr. Murach is truly a win for all of us: our students, our staff, and our community! Congratulations, Mr. Murach! We’re so lucky you’re a Viking! Joelle FOLLOW US & STAY CONNECTED Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs Website: http://mhhs.hcpss.org/ Student Online Newspaper: The Mountain: https://mthmountain.com/ UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS See the calendar on our website for additional dates. Date Time Event March ~ 15 6pm Summer School registration window for Lifetime Fitness, Health, Art, ESOL, and World Language March 11, 18, 25 6-8pm International Parent Leadership Program(IPLP) @ Hebron March 12, 19, 26 5:30 – 8pm 4-week series of Guiding Good Choices Parenting Classes by HC DrugFree & HC State's Attorney's Office @ Elkridge Library March ~ 27 Online Mulch Sales March ~ 29 AP Exam Registration Online March 11 5:30-7pm HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council meeting @ Barn/Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center March 11 7pm New Date Spring Sports Parents Meeting in the Auditorium March 11 6:30-8:30pm Youth In Conversation @ Oliver’s Carriage House, (also known as Kittamaqundi Community Church) March 12 6:30pm PTSA meeting with Values Workshop March 13 7-8:30pm Leadership & Service Opportunity Meeting @ Homewood March 15 7:30am-2pm Mt. Hebron Student Leadership Conference March 15 6-8:30pm Black History Celebration in the Cafeteria March 15 9am – 5pm Safe Space Training @Grassroots office, 6700 Freetown Rd, Columbia. March 16 10am-4pm MTH Marketplace in Gym & Cafeteria March 17 11am-2pm Soup’r Sundae Fundraiser for Grassroots @ Wilde Lake High School March 18 During Lunch M. Stein will measure students for Prom Tux Rental March 18 7pm HC DrugFree offer Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs @ Howard High March 22 Immunization Consent Form Deadline to Health Room for Clinic March 22, 23, 7pm Hebron Theatre Performances of The Wizard of Oz 28, 29, 30 in the Auditorium 3/21 @ 9:30am/ Seniors & 3/24 @ 2pm April 1 4:30-7:30pm Ellicott City Brain Bee Competition @ Hebron April 1 7pm HC DrugFree offer Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs @ Marriotts Ridge High April 5 Early Dismissal @ 11:10am/Professional Work Day April 6 Mulch Sale Delivery April 7 8:30am - Women in Aeronautics & Astronautics Presentation 4:30pm @ UMD College Park, Kim Engineering Bldg April 8 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center April 13-22 Spring Break – Schools Closed April 24 Report Cards Issued for Quarter 3 April 27 10am - 2pm Drive-thru EpiPen, Medication and More Collection @ Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot April 27 Prom @ The Hotel at Arundel Preserves April 28 12am-3:30am After-Prom @ YMCA in Ellicott City April 29 NHS Applications Deadline to Mrs. Sankey & Ms. Stafford May 6 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center May 16 Interim Reports Issued for Quarter 4 May 20-31 Graduation Window June 3 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center June19, 20, 21 Early Dismissal @ 11:10am/Final Exams for HS June 21 11:10am Last Day of School CELEBRATIONS! **For the most up-to-date celebrations, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs Congratulations to Jake Witlin who was awarded the Captain John and Angie Skinner $10,000 scholarship for college!! This scholarship was awarded through the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) for a high school senior pursuing a STEM education in college. We are so proud of you Jake!! A huge THANK YOU to Terri Gainey and the PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee for giving us the perfect winter warm-up this week with K-cups for the entire staff! We know it wouldn't have been possible without all of the generous donations from our parents, so please know how appreciative we are! Thank you! Thank you! Congratulations to the members of the It’s Academic team: Yusuf Malqi, David Wang, Khiem Doan, Connor Croft, Jeremy Roberts-Kleban, Chase Blanchette, Gary Gibbs, and Yashas Anil who competed in the National History Bowl on Saturday, March 2nd. Yashas, Chase, and Khiem will compete on April 6th in the second round of the WJZ sponsored It’s Academic Tournament. Congratulations to the Mt. Hebron Ice Vikes Ice Hockey Club for earning the Maryland State Hockey League’s (MSHL) Tem Sportsmanship Award, for a second year in a row! This award was achieved by having the fewest penalty minutes, averaged over the entire regular season, of all 48 teams in the league (36 penalty minutes for the entire season). The Ice Vikes also finished third in the Howard Conference, earning a back to back trip to the State playoffs! Other highlights include: Zach Steckel: MSHL Hall of Fame, All- State Team Honorable mention, 1st Team for All Conference, Conference All Star, and Academic Award. Vinny Karam: 2nd Team for All Conference, Conference All Star, Academic Award and Hobey Baker Character Award for exemplary character and sportsmanship. Conference All Stars: Jack Callaghan, Liam Malonson, Danny Wallace and Coach Matt Kelley. Academic Awards: Zane Baker, Lauren Cursey, Ben Gordon, Andrew McMennamin and Brennan Olds. Ice Vikes 2018-19 Roster includes; Seniors: Julia Aldred, Vinny Karam, Brennan Olds, Zach Steckel and Danny Wallace. Juniors: Jack Callaghan, Eleni Keogh and Austin Meckes. Sophomores: Lauren Cursey, Liam Malonson, Andrew McMennamin and Jake Schwartz. Freshmen: Zane Baker, Ethan Freeman, Ben Gordon, Gianni Karam, Jake Pearce and Ty Rager. Student Managers: Adam Johnson and Dan Herlihy Coaches: Derek Freeman, Gordon Wallace, Matt Kelley, Chloe and Max Ruck Managers: Jennifer McMennamin and Madelaine Steckel, Mary Pearce (Backer Rep), Scott Pearce (Photographer), Mary Olds (Apparel), and Eftyhia Zesta (Treasurer) Teacher Liaisons: Michelle Vealey and Dan Blocklin. Look at these amazing doors our students created!! In honor of Black History Month, a group of Vikings installed door decorations. The decorations are intended to educate, empower and encourage dialogue. We want our fellow Vikings to engage in thoughtful conversations to bring us closer together while being more aware of our history and humanizing all our ancestors and peers. Special Thanks to the students who created the doors! Alexandra Mouangue Allen Dixon Emily Coliano Ana Mosisa Iqra Diaz William Mouangue Hannah Wyatt Camaya Ezieke Brooke Foyles Autumn Johnson Co-Tu Doan Shamal Brown Chelsea Mikal Nia Bryant Jaylin Lawlah During 5th period today we celebrated our students who have most improved their GPA from 1st to 2nd quarter! Congratulations to these hardworking Vikings! During 6th period today we celebrated our students of the month! NEW NEWS Spring Sports Parents Meeting Rescheduled The Spring Sports Parents Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th at 7:00 PM has been postponed in order to allow students, coaches, and parents to attend the Boys Basketball Sectional Final at Reservoir High School at 6:00 PM.