MDIHS CHALK TALK

Week of October 2, 2023

Greetings: 

The Autumn Equinox has arrived!  Autumn is a beautiful time of the year in our area of the world - eye-popping foliage, crisp air, apple picking, and so much more.

Autumn also brings Homecoming to MDIHS.  The week of October 2 will be Spirit Week at MDI.  We'll kick off the week with a pep rally and end the week on Saturday with our Homecoming Dance. 

We will be holding Parent/Teacher Conferences the first week of October and that will be the opportunity for parents/guardians of students of all grades to meet with their student's teachers.  If you wish to meet with them in person, please  contact them directly.  Staff Directory

Sign up for Parent / Teacher conferences!!
Be sure to have a list of your student's teachers before beginning.
Click here to begin scheduling your appointments.

Homecoming Dance, 7pm

Important Information for Parents

Could this be yours?


Found in our entryway during the week of sports physicals. If you believe it is yours, please contact Mary Corrow mcorrow@mdirss.org or 288.5011 ext 3300.

Upcoming Activities

FlexTime Activities

Flex Time Is The Best Time!

Mrs. Witham will be offering several groups during flex time!


*Affirmation Boards - Come make your own affirmation board..encourage yourself

*Managing Anxiety in School 

*Talk Story - come share your story with us “What makes you happy” 

Grief Share- Have you experienced a loss? Know that you are not alone. You can come just listen or share your story

Mindfulness Meditation - Learn techniques to quiet your thoughts and stay in the present moment.

Friend Stop - Have you been missing your friends? Are your schedules different? Come just spend some time with your friends and catch up! 


And many more! Or just come chill with Mrs. Witham, if you haven't heard..She’s Awesome : )

Hair braiding

We have a new FlexTime offering on hair braiding, initiated & led by Khalisah Williams. This picture highlights her teaching how to add extensions. Khalisah intends to pursue cosmetology post MDIHS.

Biology club

Another student-driven & led initiative is our new Biology Club. Thanks to Sig Reinholdt for getting this started! This picture shows the table Sig set up for the Activities Fair to get word out about the club.
Sig is seen here leading the very first Bio Club meeting during FlexTime.

School Board meetings - High school & District 

MDIRSS School Committees & Boards

Mount Desert Island Regional School System – AOS #91 has 11 individual school committees and boards.  Each elementary school department has its own school committee or board of directors.

Meeting schedules and information on board policies, along with board members
is available on the district site.  www.mdirss.net

Fundraising

School Lunch

My School Bucks Reimbursement: The MDI High School is no longer using the myschoolbucks program. Lunch funds that were left on the accounts are currently being reimbursed.  If you have any questions please contact Wendy Littlefield at wlittlefield@mdirss.org or 207-288-5011 ext 3352.

HCTC Students

The MDI and Ellsworth school calendars have been reviewed. Below are the conflicts in scheduling. SPECIAL NOTE: When HCTC has school and MDIHS does not, our students are expected to attend their HCTC programs. When MDIHS has school and HCTC does not, our students do not have to be here but if you do come in, please report to the Library. Transportation will be provided by MDIHS on the days that we have no school or an Early Release Schedule. 

Guidance Office Team

InstagramFacebookLink

Class of 2024

Seniors!

Be sure to sign up for your senior meeting with your guidance counselor to discuss your post-graduate plans. 


Ms. Gurtler: Last names begin with A-K     mgurtler@mdirss.org

Ms. Rowell: Last names begin with L-Z      mrowell@mdirss.org

Want to learn more about a college?

We are hosting a bunch of College Admissions Representatives who want to tell you about their schools.  You can see the full schedule Here!

Classes of 2025 & 2026

Attention all Sophomores and Juniors

PSATs will be given on October 18th during the regular school day and times. There is no need to sign up - all 10th and 11th graders are already registered.

FAQs from the Main Office

Parents/Guardians: Please contact the school at 288-5011 to report an absence on the ‘Attendance Line’--Option 1 It is very important that parents/guardians contact the school, using the above method, when your child is out of school.  It is vital that we know when someone is out due to illness, so that our school nurse, Tammy Underwood, can reach out to the family and ensure a safe return to school that will keep us all healthy. Approved list of excused absences according to Maine State Law. MDIHS also accepts legal appointments.

All students must check-in at the Main Office upon arrival, even if tardiness is excused.

Calling or sending a note in the morning allows us to give your student a pass to get out of class at the appropriate time.  If a student feels sick once they arrive, they need to be dismissed by our nurse, Tammy Underwood. Students cannot leave the building without permission from a parent/guardian AND checking out at the Main Office.

A parent may drop off items at the main office, and the student will be called down between classes. 

All Extracurricular Information can be found on the Athletics tab on our homepage, www.mdihs.netCancellations and changes will be posted by 1pm, or as soon as possible. Want to find out if school is canceled or delayed? Call 288-5011, ext 7, or check our webpage, www.mdihs.net.

It is important to notify the school when your student is going to miss 3 days or more of school. The Extended Absence Form should be completed ahead of time by your student and their teachers. Completed forms are turned in to Mr. Braun’s office.

Community Service Opportunities

For a detailed listing of Community Service opportunities visit:

https://sites.google.com/mdirss.org/mdihs-community-service/home

Message from the School Nurse

Happy Fall MDI


I hope you have been able to enjoy some of the unseasonable warm days that we have had, they are well deserved!  Now that school is in full swing I am busy with making sure all students are up to date with all required vaccinations that are mandated by the state.  What that means is going through all 500 records and checking vaccination status of each student.  If your student needs a vaccine you have likely received a phone call from me letting you know.  According to the state of Maine all students who are not up to date should not be permitted to attend school in person until compliant.  This is definitely not something we want to do however, compliance is expected.  If your student needs a vaccination please contact the clinic where your student is seen and make arrangements for them to get the vaccine they need and notify me when completed.  


A reminder that we are a SHELLFISH FREE SCHOOL.  Please refrain from bringing any seafood into the building.


It's Flu clinic time of year!  We will be having our student Flu Clinic here at the HS on October 17th from 9am -11:00.  Please complete the flu vaccine form which will need to be filled and turned in no later then Friday 10/13.  Students should bring the completed forms to the clinic or it can be emailed to me.



Tammy Underwood RN

MDIHS School Nurse

Email: tammy.underwood@mdirss.org

Phone: 207-288-5011 ext. 3305


Community News

Who We Are:

Anne Patterson, Director, apatterson@mdirss.org

Michelle Brzezowski, academic teacher and coordinator, michelle.brzezowski@mdirss.org

Rebeccah Brann, part time workforce and enrichment program coordinator


MDI Adult Ed Programming:


We are actively looking for anyone interested in teaching or presenting a class for our enrichment program. We may also be looking for volunteers to work with our quickly growing English Language Learner program. 

Have a community event that you want high school students or parents to be aware of, or
a community service opportunity for MDI students? 
Contact Mary Corrow at mcorrow@mdirss.org
For more information, visit our website at www.mdihs.net