PANTHER PRESS Issue 1 A Publication of Midway High School PTA Fall 2017 On behalf of the Midway High School PTA, welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! The theme for Texas PTA this year is Every Child. One Voice. We hope this issue of the newsletter will help you and your student get back into the swing of things and want to be a part of the future year. One of our goals is to keep you informed about Midway PTA happenings throughout the year. Be sure to Like us on Facebook at Midway High School PTA, or Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also join an email update list by sending a request to: midwayhspta@gmail.com JOIN PTA!! We invite you to join the MHS PTA Membership and get involved in your student s education. For $6.50, you will enjoy the following membership benefits; access to resources via the Texas State and National PTA websites, great discounts to many businesses, and information about educating our students. Remember, for senior students to be eligible for PTA scholarships, at the local, council, state, or national level, the student must be a member of MHS PTA. A membership form is included in this newsletter for your convenience. Visit the Panther Pit to pick up the best spirit wear of Midway at the best prices. Located near the main door by the cafeteria, the Panther Pit will be open most Thursdays and Fridays throughout the fall during the lunch hours. Make sure to get your shirts for our annual Red Out game on September 8th and Pink Out game on October 6th.
Our 2 nd annual fundraiser, Midway PTA Panther Prowl, will be the morning of October 14th. This is our only main fund raiser benefiting numerous PTA programs throughout the year such as Academic Awards, Reflections, Spirit of Midway, Teacher Appreciation, Teacher Goodie Days, Panther Reach, Scholarships, After Prom, and much more. We hope you will make plans to participate in this fun event. Even if you don t run, you can participate as a Superhero in many different ways. Contact Heather White for sponsorship information at heatherlwhite@att.net I look forward to partnering with you this year and helping our students. Our PTA is a valuable resource to parents, teachers and students, we hope you will come be a part of a great year. Blessing for a successful year, Stephanie Arnett MHS PTA President 2017-2018 MHS PTA Officers 2017-2018 President: Stephanie Arnett 1 st VP/Programs (President Elect): Nancy Walker 2 nd VP/Membership: Michelle Plaskett 3 rd VP/Fundraising: Heather White 4 th VP/Communications: Chic Mellon Secretary: Deborah Focarile Treasurer: Amy Fields Historian: Carolynn Wachsmann Parliamentarian: Monica Rohre
Administration Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! As our faculty and staff prepare for the start of this school year, we look forward to meeting all of our freshmen and our new students to MHS. We also look forward to seeing all of our returning students and welcoming them back to Panther Nation. Midway High School is a fantastic school setting that offers community among teachers and students, while striving for excellence in all areas. The MHS campus encourages academic success while offering multiple opportunities for students to be involved in one of our many programs. All students have an opportunity to be a part of extracurricular organizations that range from Fine Arts, to Career and Technical Education student organizations, UIL Academics and any one of our highly successful Athletic programs. Midway is a high school founded on our traditions and pride for our organization. MHS offers many other clubs to all students, so that every student can find their place within the vast walls of our building. Our student family welcomes all students and encourages each person to find their place and get involved. With over 60 clubs available, it is possible for every single student to follow their strength and become a great leader among their peers. Parental involvement is crucial to each student s success. We encourage each parent to stay connected with what is happening at the high school campus. Each Friday, I will send a weekly newsletter informing you of events and accomplishments involving MHS students. Please also stay connected through our Midway PTA and Midway Booster Clubs. Our teachers and staff value parental involvement, and we know that it is necessary to create collaborative partnerships to increase student success. On behalf of the teachers, administrators and staff at Midway High School, I welcome you all to the 2017-2018 school year. We are always aiming for excellence when students are involved. Please, feel free to contact me at 254-761- 5650 or visit the MHS website at www.midwayisd.org/mhs. Thank you and Go Panthers! Alison D. Smith Principal, Midway High School
MHS PTA Membership 2017-2018 Thank you for participating in PTA! Your membership is important to many programs that our students enjoy. Additionally, PTA provides scholarships to seniors. PLEASE NOTE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR Midway PTA SCHOLARSHIPS BOTH THE STUDENT AND AT LEAST ONE PARENT MUST BE A MEMBER THE YEAR the student applies. Memberships must be received by December 1 st to be eligible for scholarship. Forms can be left at office or mailed to Michelle Plaskett at 200 Edinburgh Lane, Waco 76712. Email questions to mhsptamembership@yahoo.com or you may also text to 254-717- 0823. Registration may also be completed online at http://www.joinpta.org there is a $1.50 processing fee assessed by TX PTA so register all families members in one batch to prevent additional fees. MEMBERSHIP FOR STUDENT- Students can be members at every grade level and are strongly encouraged to do so. Student Name Grade Is student a senior this year? YES NO Students will receive emails to their student account unless another is provided ALTERNATE EMAIL COST $7.00 x Student Name Grade Is student a senior this year? YES NO Students will receive emails to their student account unless another is provided ALTERNATE EMAIL COST $7.00 x MEMBERSHIP FOR PARENTS, GUARDIANS, OR OTHER ADULT FAMLY/FRIENDS NAME Relationship Is this person faculty? Lifetime award recipient? Where from? EMAIL: PHONE Texts ok? COST $7.00 Regular Lifetime $4.50 NAME Relationship EMAIL: PHONE Texts ok? Is this person faculty? Lifetime award recipient? Where from? COST $7.00 Regular Lifetime $4.50 Total # of Regular/Student/Faculty members X $7.00 + Total Lifetime members X$4.50 = owed Check number Cash Yes / No BE A PART. WE WELCOME YOU! If you would like to be contacted to support our events by serving in committees, lending a hand at events, or sending supplies please check below. Serve in committees Lend a hand Send supplies Best way to contact text Phone email
Mark your calendar October 14, 2017 for the 2nd Annual Panther Prowl: The Super Heroes Avenge! Join MHS PTA in this community wide 1M and 5K event. Contact Heather White at HeatherLWhite@att.net
Panther Pit Panther pit offers items for all your Midway spirit needs. Open Thursdays and Fridays during lunch throughout football season (Sales tax will apply) Red Out Game is Sept.8 th! Stop by the Pit and get a red Midway shirt for only $10. Check out our merchandise at http://www.midwayisd.org/page/15190
Reflection 2017-2018 The PTA Reflections program offers positive recognition and a creative outlet for students in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The MHS PTA Reflections awards a $100 scholarship to the top entry in each category as well as advances the top 20% of entries in each category to the Council Level. In order to qualify to advance or be awarded a scholarship, the student or at least one person from their primary household must be a current member of the Midway High School PTA. Entry deadline is October 25, 2017. More information will be available through the PTA web site www.midwayisd.org/domain/111 once requirements are released from the state level (by September). The theme for the 2017-18 year is Within Reach. Express your artistic talent and tell your story through Reflections!
SPIRIT OF MIDWAY AWARD 2017-2018 Students Qualify Now for Awards Given in Spring 2018 The Spirit of Midway Award is a partnership sponsored by the Midway High School PTA and underwritten by the MISD Education Foundation to promote and recognize the achievement, initiative and community service of MHS students. It is a voluntary, noncompetitive award open to all current MHS students. To earn the award, a student must qualify in three areas: Grades - Earn 80 or above in each class for the fall semester (Multiplier does apply.) Campus Involvement - Participate in at least 2 extracurricular student groups at MHS* Community Service - Perform at least 20 hour s of voluntary community service on at least two different projects from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Note: Credit for community service and campus involvement for incoming freshmen and new students to MHS began June 2, 2017. The award culminates with a recognition event each spring. Students must submit a complete application between January 22 and January 26, 2018 to be considered for the Spirit of Midway Award. Submission must be received that week only during Counseling Office hours. Detailed information and forms are available at the Midway Foundation website at www.midwayisd.org/foundation or you may contact Robin Kanz at rkanz@swbell.net
Midway High School PTA 2017-2018 Calendar August 3 Fish Camp Dance/Mixer/Parent Meeting August 11 Registration & Schedule Pick- up (State tax- free day 8/11) August 14 Convocation (PTA tax- free day #1) August 18 August 21 August 21 August 24 September 1 September 4 September 7 September 8 PTA Teacher Luncheon School Begins Meet the Panthers 7PM First PTA and General Meeting in DLC - 11:30 am Football Game: MHS @ Cedar Park School Holiday (Labor Day) PTA Board Meeting in DLC - 11:30 am Football Game: MHS v Cedar Ridge (RED OUT) September 11 Open House & General PTA Meeting 6:00 pm September 15 Football Game: MHS @ Temple September 22 Football Game: MHS v Waco September 29 Football Game: MHS@ Copperas Cove October 5 October 6 October 12 October 14 October 14 October 20 October 27 November 2 November 3 November 9 Nov 20-24 PTA Board Meeting in DLC - 11:30 am Football Game: MHS v Harker Heights (PINK OUT) Football Game: MHS @ Killeen (Thursday Game) Panther Prowl (AM) Homecoming Dance (PM) Football Game: MHS v Belton (HOMECOMING) OPEN WEEK FOOTBALL PTA Board Meeting in DLC - 11:30 am Football Game: MHS @ Shoemaker Football Game: MHS v Ellison (Thursday Game) Thanksgiving Break
December 7 December 12 December 22 Dec 25- Jan 8 December 31 PTA Board Meeting 11:30 am Location TBA Spring Newsletter Deadline Early Release Winter Break Spirit of Midway Service Deadline