Happy New Year from the MCC High School Counseling Center! We have been busy in our office working on all kinds of projects and are excited to share a few of the things we’ve been working on lately. First of all - the Caring Closet is now up & running in the Counseling Center. This project is in huge thanks to Nikki Cheskie and the MCC Children’s Fund. We now have a large closet full of food, hygiene items, and clothing available free for students in need. We are hoping that by providing students with these necessities, they can more fully focus on school while they’re here. All students need to do is check in with me or Mr. Scheitel in the Counseling Center to have access to what we have available.
Mr. Scheitel and I have also been working closely with TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) and Student Council. We have met twice to collaborate and brainstorm ways to help our new students feel more welcome at MCC. We are optimistic about the ideas our students shared and excited to put those into place. One of the best ways for students to feel more at home in a new school is to get involved in activities, so we’re planning to put together a brochure highlighting all of the activities and athletic programs students can get involved in here at MCC.
With the start of a new year, that also means our semester will change soon. The final date of Semester 1 is January 16, and our new semester will begin January 20. With the change of semesters, comes a new batch of classes and a fresh start for students to continue to strive for their very best. Encourage students to start off the new semester with a clean slate, by prioritizing organization and homework completion, along with strong attendance. These things go a long way for student success!
Testing season is also coming up soon. We will begin ACCESS testing for our EL students this month, and move into the National Assessment for Educational Progress in February for our 4th grade students. The ACT will be given at MCC on March 12 for juniors who opt to take this college entrance exam, and finally, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments will begin in March. It’s a busy time, with a lot going on. Encourage students to get a full nights’ sleep before their tests, have a good breakfast, and try their best. These tests are a snapshot of student progress, and also a reflection of the work that’s been done this school year. MCC has a proud tradition of academic excellence, and the shining examples of our students throughout the year can be highlighted through their assessment progress.
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve also started planning ahead for next fall already. We are working on compiling our list of course offerings and will be updating registration sheets to be shared with students soon. Some of the exciting opportunities our students have are the CEO program, PSEO & College Now classes, and a wide variety of online elective options. Soon, I will meet with each grade level and share what courses are available to them and walk them through the registration process. Please, reach out if you have any questions about course offerings for next year!
One other big project I’ve been working on is the MCC Scholarship Program. This is a legacy we are so proud of - to be able to provide scholarships for MCC graduates for the past several years. Last year, because of our generous donors, we were able to give out over $50,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors, and are excited to provide many of those scholarships again this year. We are so grateful for all of our donors, near and far, who have a heart for education and wish to ease the financial burden for our students to be successful in their post-secondary endeavors. I will be sharing the 2026 scholarship application with seniors in the next few weeks, along with other important information leading up to graduation, May 15!
It’s a busy season, but even in the busyness, I continue to be grateful for the many opportunities we have here at MCC. Compassion, collaboration, and strong academics are hallmarks of our school, and reflective of the support of our community. Thank you all for your continued support of Murray County Central schools! Students, parents, teachers, support staff, administration, school board members, volunteers, and community members - we wouldn’t be the school that we are today without each of you!