Rebel Roundup
By Jacob Scandrett- HS Principal
With nearly 50-degree temperatures forecasted for this week, spring seems to be right around the corner, and it’s that time of year where we start to begin preparations for next fall. In districts all around Minnesota, schools are preparing students for course registration with class meetings, a review of course requirements and discussions about credits for graduation. Students at MCC will start the registration process this week.
New learning opportunities are on the horizon at MCC. Next year we are hoping to run a Criminal Justice/ Law Enforcement class in partnership with our Sheriff’s Office and local PD. According to our law enforcement officials, finding officers is very challenging. Our hope is to expose students to different occupational options within the criminal justice system and all the opportunities and benefits such a field has to offer. The course description is as follows: This course will study the professions within the criminal justice system- (law enforcement, correctional officers, and the court system), examine case studies of crimes and criminals, review simulations, participate in field trips, and hear from multiple guest speakers. We will examine how our criminal justice system is set up, look at societal issues, and review criminal behaviors and statistics. The course will end with a mock crime scene and mock criminal trial.
Another course that we are hoping to run is an Introduction to Education course. Being an educator is another huge employment option available to many people. It is a challenging, yet rewarding field. This course is offered through the SMSU College Now program and is an introduction to early childhood, elementary, and secondary education for students interested in teaching. Students will explore their potential for teaching in light of admission criteria and licensure requirements. It includes study of historical and social foundations of education topics, such as inquiry into the teaching and learning process, schools in a multicultural and diverse society, the profession of teaching principles of cooperative group learning and cultural differences, communication, and stereotyping. Fifteen hours of field experience is included. Students will receive college credit for this class.
We are also hoping to run a hydroponic growing class in the near future. With the addition of our hydroponic growing system (grow shed) we now have the capability to grow plants year-round. Thanks to a generous contribution from Nobles Cooperative Electric, students will be exposed to hydroponic growing and learn about applications in life science, biology, chemistry and agriculture. An added benefit of this grow shed is that we will also be able to supplement our lunch line with fresh produce. At this point we are learning to use the grow shed and are hoping to have our first batch of lettuce this spring. We are currently working with small groups of students to get it up and running and to grow our first crops. It is a learning process and an awesome opportunity for our students to learn about a different way to grow plants.
Another class we have started looking into running is an EMT/EMR class. Currently, our medical track includes Introduction to Medical Careers and Medical Terminology. Students are interested in adding an EMT/EMR or CNA class to this progression. We are exploring these possibilities and looking at partnering with different districts or businesses to make this a reality in the coming years. This is a work in progress but something we are committed to exploring.
We are also currently in the process of taking applications for our CEO program. The CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program is a premier business program that gives students real world, hands-on experience in business creation and management. Students have now successfully run two businesses and presented information at vendor fairs and other local businesses and groups regarding the program. The profit from their class business will be used as startup money to start their own individual businesses. Mentors have been coaching students regarding their business plans since the first mentor meeting in October. MCC students report that things are going well and that they are learning applicable business and life skills. This program has led them to opportunities and experiences they have never had before. It pushes them out of their comfort zone and gives them a competitive edge. If you are a current sophomore or junior and are interested in pursuing a career in business, please consider applying for next year’s class!
It is an exciting time at MCC! These are but a few of the many wonderful opportunities that students have for classes at Murray County Central. None of these opportunities would be possible without the generous support of our community. Thank you for your continued support and making a difference in the lives of our students.