Maeser Updates: 25 September 2020

In This Edition

Updates to Maeser’s COVID Learning Plan, Student Fees Due This Week, Flu Shot Clinic, Mock Trial Teams Info Meeting, School Picture Day Info, 11th Grade PSAT Day, Volunteer Opportunity: Virtual College Carnival, Sports Announcements (Sports/Academic Eligibility, Wrestling), Counseling Announcements (Senior CCRs, Senior Year Information, Miss Krystal’s Counseling Corner Podcast, FAFSA Portal Opens This Week), Help Us Stay In Touch!

Front Office Hours This Week

Procedures for Front Office Visits

7:30am-4pm Mon-Thurs
8:30am-1pm Fri

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

Thursday, October 1
DEADLINE To Pay Fall School Fees
– includes enrollment, graduation, Winterim, year-long & first-semester class fees, and AP exam fees; Late Fee ($15) after this date
DEADLINE To Pay AP Exam Fees – students who do not pay their AP exam fee(s) by this date will be dropped from their AP class(es)

Friday, October 2
9am Mock Trial Team Information Meeting in room 205
10am-12pm Flu Shot Clinic

Monday, October 12
Picture Day for A-Day students (last names A-J)

Tuesday, October 13
Picture Day for B-Day students (last names K-Z)

Wednesday, October 14
PSAT/NMSQT Day – Juniors ONLY on campus

Thursday-Friday, October 15-16
Fall Break – NO SCHOOL

Updates to Maeser’s COVID Learning Plan

We have been pleased overall with how our school community has responded to returning to school. Even though students are only on campus twice a week, they are learning every day, and we appreciate the support of parents and extended family provide to ensure students are able to continue their education. With the evolving COVID-19 situation in Utah County, we want to reiterate Maeser’s plan and approach to schooling and education.

Initially, Maeser provided three options for student learning, and asked families to indicate which option they preferred:

  1. Hybrid on-campus and online learning
  2. SEATS online learning (available for high school students only)
  3. Withdraw to homeschool or other online option

We realize that families’ circumstances may have changed since the beginning of the school year, and that expectations for the hybrid approach of on-campus and online learning may be more difficult for students than initially anticipated. However, Maeser does not have the ability to facilitate students who want to be solely online. If families wish to have their student do online-only learning, they will need to contact the counselors to enroll in SEATS or withdraw to homeschool and then find another school that does online learning. You can contact the counselors for help if you need to go this route. Students who withdraw to homeschool or transfer to an online school may retain their priority status to return to Maeser as long as they complete their courses and remain on track for graduation.

We have designated Fridays as “Advisory” days so students can come and get specific, small group tutoring from their teachers. Additionally, because of the limited in-class instruction time this year, Fridays are also designated for teachers to give tests. Teachers will communicate well in advance if students need to come to school on Friday to take a test.

In an effort to increase communication with parents, we will be sending home mid-term reports with your students next week. You can always check your students’ most recent grades and attendance via PowerSchool. Email info@maeserprep.org if you need help accessing your account.

Student Fees Due This Thursday, October 1

Student fees* are due on Thursday, October 1. You may contact the finance office at finance@maeserprep.org before the due date to set up a payment plan (no interest applied). Sorry, AP exam fees, PE uniforms, and extracurriculars cannot be put on payment plans. Late payments will receive a $15 late fee.

* Includes annual student fees, Winterim fee, graduation fee, year-long class fees, first semester class fees, and AP exam fee(s).

Flu Shot Clinic: Friday, October 2

Community Nursing Services will be on-site giving flu shots to students, families, and staff October 2nd, 2020 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. All major insurances accepted, and charitable care available for those without insurance. Bring a face mask and your insurance card. The school receives a donation for each flu shot given.

Mock Trial Teams: Information Meeting

Want to be a member of our inaugural Mock Trial Teams? We will be meeting for the first time on Friday, October 2nd at 9am in room 205 to get organized and lay out our training schedule. Competition begins in February. If you need further information, contact Herr Geary in his classroom (205) or by email at: douglas.geary@maeserprep.org.

School Pictures: Monday & Tuesday, October 12 & 13

School Pictures are coming soon! School Picture Day is a FULL DRESS DAY — wear your Full Dress Uniform and bring your best smile!

  • Monday, October 12: A-Day Students (last names A-J)
  • Tuesday, October 13: B-Day Students (last names K-Z)

The easiest way to order school pictures is to pre-order your student’s photo package online at mylifetouch.com. Make sure to order before School Picture Day and remember to use our Picture Day ID: EVTW8QHQC.

11th Grade PSAT Day: Wednesday, October 14

On Wednesday, October 14, all Maeser juniors will be given the opportunity to take the PSAT — a pre-SAT test offered by the College Board. This is a free opportunity for our juniors to enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition. PSAT Student Guides, which include a free practice test, will be sent home with juniors soon.

In order to create a safe and focused testing environment for our juniors, we have set aside this day for PSAT testing only. There will be NO SCHOOL on October 14 for students who are not in 11th grade. Please make other arrangements for your students in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 on that day, as we will not have space or supervision available for them on our campus.

PSAT Day is for all juniors, regardless of last name or in-person/SEATS status. Since we only have about 100 juniors and they’ll be the only students on campus that day, we should be able to easily maintain social distancing protocols. Masks and uniforms will be required as usual. Detailed information about what to bring on test day will be sent to juniors and their parents as we get closer to the day of the test.

Due to COVID precautions, we are unable to provide breakfast or snacks as we have in the past. We recommend that students eat a nutritious breakfast before arriving at school on the morning of the test and bring their own snacks for the break.

Parents who prefer not to send their students to campus for testing can choose to opt their students out of this test by submitting a signed Parental Exclusion Form at least 24 hours prior to the day of the test. (These students will be provided with information about how they can enter the National Merit Scholarship competition without taking the PSAT.)

Volunteer Opportunities: Virtual College Carnival

Our Maeser Counseling Department is sponsoring a virtual College Carnival this year. Due to budget cuts this year, college admissions departments don’t have as much swag as they have in the past years. We are looking for donations to offer as prizes for students as they play our virtual college games and answer college-related questions.

We need your help to make this virtual event FANTASTIC for all our students! For more information and to sign up to donate: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050A4AABA82FA4FA7-college.

DON’T FORGET! Report your volunteer hours once you’ve dropped off your donation: Report Parent Service Hours. Each $7.50 spent for donations counts as one hour of volunteer service!

Sports Announcements

Sports/Academic Eligibility

Eligibility for winter sports/activities will be based on 1st term grades for all grade levels. Students (7th-12th) must earn a 2.7 GPA with no Fs/NGs. In addition, high school students cannot have any Fs/NGs/Incompletes from previous high school terms. If the F/NG/Incomplete is made up by the beginning of the sports season they will be able to participate.

Wrestling

High school students who are interested in wrestling please contact Coach Searle (everett.searle91@gmail.com) or Mr. Norris (jared.norris@maeserprep.org) to let them know you are interested. The season begins on November 9th.

Counseling Announcements

Senior CCRs

Senior College & Career Readingess meetings will be running through the end of October. Seniors & parents, please use this link to make your appointment: Senior CCR Appointments Calendar

Senior Year Information

This episode of Miss Krystal’s Counseling Corner Podcast contains important information regarding things happening for seniors this year. It replaces the Senior Information Night usually held on campus.

Miss Krystal’s Counseling Corner Podcast

THIS WEEK: Three quick tips on not giving up — PLUS this week’s Unusual Scholarship! Catch it all in episode 16: Never Fail To Try More

Students can listen and email Mrs. Anderson a main point from the podcast to be entered into a weekly drawing. Drawings will take place on Mondays or Tuesdays.

FAFSA Portal Opens THIS WEEK: October 1

The FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid) Portal Opens this Thursday, October 1st. Due to COVID they are offering free online help sessions. You can get one-on-one help filling out the form by clicking on this link and scheduling a session: http://www.completefinancialaid.org/.

Help Us Stay In Touch!

Opt In For School Text Messages

Our school utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts, student fees, and more. We will only use text messaging for urgent and important information.

You can participate in this service by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587. You can also opt out of text messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”.

Thank you for helping us keep in contact with your family!

Update Your Contact Information

If any of your contact information has changed – email address, mailing address, phone number – please let us know so we can stay in touch with your family.