Thursday, December 17, 2015

Middle-High School Holds Fundraiser for the Salvation Army

The Mercer Middle-High School Student Council conducted a Canned Food Drive from November 18th to December 14th.

A school-wide competition was held between all first period classes to bring in the most items. In addition, spectators of the Mercer Boys' Basketball game vs. Cochranton on December 14th were granted free admission if they brought in two canned goods.

As a result of this collected effort, the students at Mercer Middle-High School were able to donate 315 items to the local Salvation Army.

A special thanks to Mrs. Oates' first period class for collecting the most items. They received a complementary breakfast on December 17th as a result of their efforts.


Student Artwork Entered Into Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition

Five Mercer students have been entered into the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition. Here are the students and their submitted pieces:

Ryan Hamilton (12th grade)
















Rebecca Simcik (12th grade)



















Jessica Cameron (10th grade)













Anna Brunson (10th grade)




















Alyssa English (12th grade)















The hyperlink below will take you to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards webpage.
http://www.artandwriting.org/

Speech Results - 41st Annual Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Invitational

The Mercer Speech Team opened its 2015-16 season with the 41st Annual Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Invitational. There were 318 speakers from 30 public and parochial schools in attendance. Eleven of Mercer's 33 team members won awards for their performances. Overall, the Mercer Speech program won 2nd place sweepstakes in the "large school" division. As a side note, Mercer Speech is in the "large school" division due to the large number of students involved with the program, even though Mercer has one of the smallest district enrollments of all schools involved.

Here are the individual results:
Duo Interpretation:
1st - Abby Grabigel and Brianna Jarrett
3rd- Maddie Rowe and Ryan Hamilton

Original Oratory:
2nd- Rachel Bish
3rd- Elizabeth Ludwig
4th- Emily Kirila

Humorous Interpretation:
2nd- Andrew Brinker
5th- Mason Borowicz

Dramatic Interpretation:
4th- Janalyn Miklas

Prose Interpretation:
5th- Evan Daugherty

The next event will be the Sterner Steel City Invitational at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School on Saturday, December 19th.

Athletic Events Week of 12.14

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of December 14th:

Monday:
Boys' Basketball vs. Cochranton @ Mercer High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)
Girls' Basketball @ Reynolds High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday:
Wrestling vs. Lakeview @ Mercer High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Wednesday:
MS Boys' Basketball @ Sharpsville (4:00 p.m.)
Boys' Basketball vs. Sharpsville @ Mercer High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)
Girls' Basketball @ Sharon High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Thursday:
Wrestling @ Sharpsville (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Friday:
MS Boys' Basketball @ Greenville (4:00 p.m.)
Boys' Basketball vs. Greenville @ Mercer High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Saturday:
Wrestling @ Redbank Valley Dual Tournament

 

Monday, December 7, 2015

Dates of Christmas Break

The Christmas break is quickly approaching. Here are a list important dates regarding school attendance.

Early Dismissal- Students dismissed at 1:15 p.m.
December 18th

No School
December 21st
December 22nd
December 23rd
December 24th
December 25th
December 28th
December 29th
December 30th
December 31st
January 1st

Athletic Hall of Fame Inducting One Member from Class of 1983

On Wednesday, December 9th the Mercer Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome its newest member, Luther Phillips, class of 1983.

The ceremony will take place at halftime during the Mercer/Kennedy Catholic Boys' Basketball game. The varsity game begins at 7:30 p.m.

Please check this blog later in the week for a full biography on Mr. Luther Phillips.

Impressive Robotics Performance at North Dakota State University

On Thursday, December 3rd-4th the Mercer Robotics program travelled to North Dakota State University to compete in the BEST Robotics Regional Competition. The team had advanced to the regional competition as a result of their strong performance at the Grove City College HUB a few months ago.

The Mercer Robotics team performed well, qualifying for the semifinal round. Out of 34 teams from across the nation, the Mercer team finished:
  • 3rd place in Spirit
  • 3rd place in Sportsmanship
  • 8th place in Robot
This was the highest finish for any team that had qualified for the regional competition out of the Grove City College HUB. The 8th place finish in Robot marks the highest score achieved for the Mercer Robotics program since our involvement in the competition.

Congratulations to all students involved for their hard work and a special thank you to all volunteers who provided support and guidance for the students in preparation for the competition.

Athletic Events Week of December 7th

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of December 7th - December 12th:

Tuesday:
Girls' Basketball @ Rocky Grove (6:00 p.m.) (Varsity only)

Wednesday:
MS Boys' Basketball @ Kennedy Catholic (4:00 p.m.)
Boys' Basketball vs. Kennedy Catholic @ Mercer High School (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Thursday:
Wrestling @ Slippery Rock (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Friday:
MS Boys' Basketball vs. Wilmington @ Mercer High School (4:00 p.m.)
Boys' Basketball @ Wilmington (6:00 p.m./7:30 p.m.)

Saturday:
MS Wrestling @ Kevin Kubalic Tournament @ Mercer High School
Girls' Basketball @ Grove City (1:00 p.m./2:30 p.m.)

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Show Choir Travels Locally This Season

The Mercer Show Choir will be travelling around the region this holiday season. The Show Choir is advised by Mrs. Michalee Christy. The following students are members of this performance group:
Levi Bequeath
Andrew Boggs
Emily Bright
Anna Brunson
Iana Ellis
Leah Fuge
Eric Gawne
Paige Gressly
Ryan Hamilton
Kelly Jarrett
Nathan Knopp
Hannah McElrath
Liam McQuiston
Janalyn Miklas
David Miller
Michael Morneweck
Megan Parker
Grace Ruhlman
Garrett Shiemke
Kyle Wamboldt
Morgan Winland
Micah Wojnowski

The Show Choir will be performing at these venues during the month of December:
Countryside - December 1st
St. Mike's - December 3rd
Mercer High School; Breakfast with Santa - December 5th
Big Brothers Big Sisters - December 7th
Volant Lions Club - December 8th
Mercer Manor - December 9th
Mercer High School; Christmas Concert - December 13th
Mercer County Courthouse - December 14th
Avalon Springs - December 14th
Shenango Valley Mall - December 14th
Fredonia Lions Club - December 16th
Mercer VFW - December 19th

Friday, December 4, 2015

Students of the Month---December

Each month the staff members at Mercer Middle-High School have the opportunity to submit the names of individuals that represent the following qualities to the highest degree: Honor, Excellence, Respect, and Determination. The following students have been selected to receive the Student of the Month Award for the month of December:

Ryanne Moore-Michaels (7th Grade)
Kieran Anderson (8th Grade)
Trumell Miller (8th Grade)
 




Congratulations to these students!

MCCC Students of the Quarter

The Mercer County Career Center selects Students of the Quarter from each of the different programs. There were multiple Mercer students who were recognized for their accomplishments at MCCC.

Brandon Anderson (12th Grade)
Precision Production Metals












Allie Cameron (12th Grade)
Cosmetology











 
Josh Robertson (11th Grade)
Carpentry
 











 
Travis Duffield (12th Grade)
Welding











 
Congratulations to these students and thanks for being such great representatives of Mercer High School.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Update from the Family Consumer Science Department

Mrs. Peggy Lengauer, from the Family Consumer Science Department has been incorporating different projects into her classes.

Students in 7th and 8th period are currently in the process of making hardtack candy. Once made, they will have these creations available for purchase. As a positive consequence, the second floor of the high school smells like a candy factory in the afternoon.

Students in the Families Today, Living Today (FTLT) class are wrapping up with a project on parenting responsibilities. Students of the class are required to carry around 5-lb flour bags in conjuction with researching different components of the birthing process and infancy. While students are working with the 'flour baby' component of the project, they must keep them on their person at all times, unless they are able to arrange a 'babysitter'. While this project cannot replicate the newborn experience, it does provide students with a brief glimpse of the responsibilies of parenthood. 

Update from the Art Department

There are some new and exciting things that are happening in the Mercer Middle-High School Art Deparment and Ms. Stephanie Martin wanted to pass along the following information.

The Art Club, in conjunction with the French Club and Photography Club, will be travelling to New York City on June 9-12, 2016. There will be many fundraisers between now and then to help defer the cost of the trip to the students.

The Art Club, in conjunction with the French Club and Photography Club, will be travelling to the Cleveland Museum of Art on December 17th to see Claude Monet's Water Lillies. This is the first time in over 30 years that all three pieces of the Water Lillies have been in the same location at the same time. 

Equus, an art and literary publication, will have a winter edition that will be created in January. Students of Mercer Middle-High School can submit photography, poetry, short stories, and art.

Please check back in the coming days to see photographs of art pieces that have been created this year by Mercer students.

Art Club Selling Christmas Ornaments

The Mercer Middle-High School Art Club is currently running a fundraiser that adds a personal touch and Mercer pride to the Christmas season.

Ms. Stephanie Martin and the members of the art club have created, glazed, and fired Christmas ornaments. These are all original pieces that are hand-crafted by the students themselves. Christmas decorations include: wreaths, reindeer, trains, snowflakes, bells, Christmas trees, stockings, mittens, candy canes, snowmen. There are also non-Christmas pieces that are available including: mustang 'M', horseshoe, football helmet, and a mustang. 

Depending on the ornament, prices range from $3.00 to $6.00 per unit. 

All proceeds benefit the students in Art Club. See a member of the Art Club or contact Ms. Martin for more details and placing an order.

Progress Reports En Route for Middle-High School Students

We have reached the halfway point during the 2nd marking period. As a result of this, the progress reports will be mailed later this week. 

It is the policy of Mercer Middle-High School to provide parents/guardians with a progress report for each class that the student is currently receiving a D+ or less (69.5% and below). Progress reports will not be mailed home if the student is acheiving a C- or more (69.6% and above). 

All parents/guardians have the opportunity to access their child's grade online. Contact the guidance office if you need an access code for your child. 

News from the Chorus Department

There are many exciting things that are happening in the life of the Mercer Middle-High School Choral Department and Mrs. Michalee Christy wanted to share the good news with you all.

Students in the Guitar class are learning to play chords and using their new skills to play Christmas carols.

Students in the Theater Arts class have just wrapped up their first show, Fairy Tale Bits and Bytes, and are now in a unit focusing on plays and musicals. They are presenting their choice this week and next week will begin designing their set for this project in shadown boxes.

The vocal department will be presenting their December concert on Sunday, December 13th at 2:00 p.m. All groups will perform (Show Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and Middle School Chorus. There will be twenty songs performed, including: Text Me Merry Christmas, Gettin the Mood, Cool Yule, Carol of the Bells, Merry Christmas Mary, and The Hallelujah Chorus. Alumni and community members are encouraged to come and join in the singing of The Hallelujah Chorus. Music will be provided.

There were eighteen students that were selected to take part in Mercer County Chorus back on November 19th at Grove City High School. Mercer High School students that were selected were David Miller, Levi Bequeath, Ryan Hamilton, Kyle Wamboldt, Janalyn Miklas, Dannah Rutter, Hannah McElrath, Grace Ruhlman, and Morgan Winland. Mercer Middle School students that were selected were Isaiah Phillips, Garrison Lutch, Christopher Wilms, Darby Miller, Jenna Burkhart, Zaleigh King, Jenna Blaus, Mikayla Adams, and Brianna Oehlbeck

There are four Mercer High School students that have been selected to take part in District Chorus in February at Laurel High School. These students are Ryan Hamilton, Mike Morneweck, Leah Fuge, and Sarah Turton. 

Student Council Hosting Canned Food Drive

The Mercer Middle-High School Student Council is currently hosting its annual Canned Food Drive to benefit local families in need during the holidays. The school continues to work in conjunction with the Salvation Army through Bethany Presbyterian Church. The drive will run until December 14th.

There is a competition between 1st period classes to see who can donate the most items. The 1st period class with the most collections will receive breakfast, courtesy of the Student Council.

Any donations from the community will be accepted if they are dropped off at the Mercer Middle-High School Greeter's Office.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Mercer Football Region All-Stars

Congratulations to the following Mercer Football Team members that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Nate Cameron-
2nd Team  Region 1 - Punter

Cross Country Region All-Stars

Congratulations to the following Cross Country Team members that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Jaime Burdette-
1st Team Region 1

Justin Reno-
1st Team Region 1

Mercer Golf Team Region All-Stars

Congratulations to the Mercer Golf Team members that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Mark Peters
All District 10 Team
1st Team Region 1

Boys' Soccer Region All-Stars

Congratulations to the following Boys' Soccer players that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Tim Lang-
All-District 10 Team
Region 1 Player of the Year
1st Team Region 1

Spencer Ference-
1st Team Region 1

Brayden Ellis-
1st Team Region 1

Chris Micsky-
1st Team Region 1

Jacob Schmid-
1st Team Region 1

Zach Stanton-
1st Team Region 1

Alex VanWoert-
1st Team Region 1

Josh Wamboldt-
1st Team Region 1

Kyle Wamboldt-
1st Team Region 1

Alex Fortenberry-
2nd Team Region 1

Girls' Soccer Region All-Stars

Congratulations to the following Mercer Girls' Soccer players that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Aubrie Angermeier-
1st Team Region 1

Kaitlin Berger-
1st Team Region 1

Iana Ellis-
1st Team Region 1

Haylie Glass-
1st Team Region 1

Megan Lang-
1st Team Region 1

Samantha Carr-
2nd Team Region 1

Bethany Juergens-
2nd Team Region 1

Volleyball Region Team All-Stars

Congratulations to the following student Mercer Volleyball Lady M's that have been recognized for their achievements during the Fall 2015 season:

Bryanna Fedorchak
1st Team Region 2

Miranda Wimer-
1st Team Region 2

Sami Metts-
2nd Team Region 2

Kaitlyn Nemeth-
2nd Team Region 2

Two Mercer Students Heading to Honors Band Festival

Two Mercer seniors, Jordyn Buchanan and Sami Metts, will be travelling to the PMEA Honors Band Festival at Westminster College on Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th.


This is a great honor for these talented musicians. We would like to extend our congratulations and wish them well at Honors Band.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Athletic Events Week of December 1st

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of December 1st:

Tuesday:
MS Girls' Basketball vs. Wilmington @ Mercer Middle-High School Gymnasium (4:00 p.m.)
Meet the Mustangs @ Mercer Middle-High School Gym (8:00 p.m.)

Wednesday:
None

Thursday:
MS Girls' Basketball @ Hickory (4:00 p.m.)

Friday:
Girls' Basketball @ Julius McCoy Tip-Off Tournament (4:00 p.m.)
Boys' Basketball @ Mercer Tip-Off Tournament (7:30 p.m. vs. Northeast)

Saturday:
MS Boys' Basketball Tournament @ Elementary Gymnasium (TBD)
Girls' Basketball @ Julius McCoy Tip-Off Tournament (TBD)
Boys' Basketball @ Mercer Tip-Off Tournament (7:30 vs. Moniteau)

Robotics Team Travelling to North Dakota State

The Mercer Robotics Team will travel to North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND later this week to participate in the BEST Robotics National Competition.

Please check back for updates and photographs from the competition.

Winter Meet the Mustaings---TONIGHT

Meet the Mustangs for the winter sports will be held on Tuesday, December 1st in the Mercer Middle-High School Gymnasium. The event will be held at 8:00 p.m.

The following organizations should be represented that evening: Middle School Cheerleaders, Varsity Cheerleaders, Independent Swimmers, Middle School Boys' Basketball, Varsity Boys' Basketball, Varsity Girls' Basketball, Middle School Wrestling Team, Varsity Wrestling Team.

Please come to show your support for these wonderful student athletes!