Mariners Christian School of Costa Mesa announced that its beloved fourth grade teacher, Kristin Knecht of Mission Viejo, was chosen as one of the Top 25 Teachers in Orange County for 2016 by OC Parenting Magazine.

The surprise announcement came in Knecht’s classroom, who received balloons, flowers, and cheers from fellow teachers, administrators, and her students.
Knecht has over 20 years of teaching experience in fourth grade, four of them at MCS.

“Mrs. Knecht is dedicated to the idea of fostering creativity, imagination, and finding ways to apply content to the real world to motivate her students. She desires to know the unique dreams and aspirations of each student in the classroom in order to make learning come alive,” said Elementary Principal Reggie Biancalani.

One of Knecht’s educational commitments is to model for her students what it means to be a “lifelong learner” by pursuing professional development opportunities as often as she can.

From attending the California Math Council Conference so that she can teach her students to think like mathematicians, to the latest training on Literacy from Columbia University Teacher College Reading and Writing Program, Knecht is ready to implement top teaching strategies to benefit her class.

She understands the importance of assessing growth as vital data to ensure students are increasing their level of achievement.

Recently she helped implement a new national standardized assessment program called MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) geared towards identifying students’ strengths and weakness in the math, reading, and language.

This year, Knecht served on the school’s accreditation steering committee, the admissions committee, and she is instrumental in co-leading a group of 130 parents and 4th grade students to Sacramento and San Francisco each spring to make social studies come alive.

In addition to being a wife of 17 years and mother to her daughter Riley (an MCS student), teaching is truly Knecht’s passion, and it is not uncommon to find students from years past visiting her classroom for a hug and pep talk.

Mesa Minute is being distributed through the High School’s Peachjar program. If you have a student registered at CMHS/MS, you are automatically getting this bi-weekly newsletter to the parent emails established in the CMHS/MS database. Click on the button on the right to be linked to the rest of the newsletter. They will be available on schoolloop. Please email vhatch@nmusd.us for any subscription issues. Mesa Minute can also be viewed on cmhs.schoolloop.com.

No School
There will be no school on:
February 15th—19th for Presidents Recess

Mesa High/Middle School Newsletter

Lunch & Learn Engineering & Manufacturing
February 24, 2016 during lunch in the library
Enjoy pizza while you hear about the various career pathways available in engineering and manufacturing from professionals who have the up-to-date insight
RSVP with Ms. Allie Hatch or Mrs. Mary Harrison (schoolloop, in person, phone) to reserve your pizza!

COSTA MESA ZONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

CMHS/MS Tutoring
Tutoring is available Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m. in the Room 146. Students interested in applying to be a tutor can get an application in the College & Career Center and the Community Service Office. For questions please contact Allie Hatch.

COSTA MESA ZONE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE HOUR OF CODE!
All of the schools in the Costa Mesa Zone participated in the Hour of Code on December 9, 2015. All students had the opportunity to do computer programming. Computer programming is important for our students. It will help them learn the skills needed for their future.

A BIG “SHOUT OUT” GOES TO DAVIS MAGNET SCHOOL STUDENTS!
A Shout Out is the new form of positive reinforcement that is sweeping across the Davis Magnet School campus. Students may earn Shout Outs when caught following the school’s five core values. Upon receiving a Shout Out, students turn in the white copy of the duplicate form to the grade level appropriate box in the front office. The yellow copy is shared with the class and/or sent home to parents. On the last Thursday of every month Mrs. Flores randomly selects two student names from every grade level box to be recognized at flag deck. Those students receive a special certificate and have their picture taken. The pictures are then on display for the remainder of the year. Davis Magnet School is in Tier II of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports). After several meetings, discussions, and observations the staff created the school wide positive reinforcement system. Shout Out to the Davis staff for their collaboration and to our students for making good choices!

MS/HS STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Scholarship Information
Scholarship Searching Video Tutorial:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqYuYjBzbU
This quick video overviews:
• three types of funding for college
• scholarship searching
• how to search for scholarships on Naviance
Scholarship of the Week
John R. Wooden Scholarship Deadline24, 2016
Possible award: varies
The John R. Wooden Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to students who have demonstrated a commitment to community involvement and for whom higher education might otherwise not be possible without financial assistance.
Criteria:
• U.S. citizen
• High school senior graduating from Newport Mesa School District
• GPA 2.0 or higher
• Plan to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited institution or as a part-time student if employed
• Demonstrate a strong pattern of community involvement, such as volunteer work and active participation in school clubs, church, etc.
• Financial need may be considered. If you choose to not enter financial information you may enter a “0”
See this link to find out about the eligibility criteria and complete the application:https://oc-cf.academicworks.com/opportunities/886
For the rest of the list, please see the Naviance websitehttps://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=costamesastudent sign in is the same login that they use for the school computers. If you are a parent and do not yet have a Naviance Parent log-in you can email Allison Hatch and she can get you a username and password.
Seniors
4 year university pathway: close attention to your emails so you don’t miss any important or information. Don’t forget to send your SAT/ACT and AP scores.
Community College pathway: It is time to apply! Go to cccapply.org to start your application. If you apply to Golden West, Orange Coast, or Coastline you can take the placement test here on our campus! See the attached form for directions on how to register.
FAFSA/Dream Act: All seniors thinking about going to any kind of higher education need to apply for either the FAFSA or Dream Act. Complete the application by March 2, 2016.
Senior Exit Project Internship: If you haven’t completed your 20 hour job shadow/internship yet you need to start thinking about it.
Stop by the College & Career Center ASAP to get help

TER AND ROP ND ROP ANNOUNCEMENTS

Juniors
If you are interested in applying to 4 year universities remember you need to complete the A-G requirements, have a 3.0 or higher (see eligibility index for CSU with 2.0), have C’s or higher, and complete at least one SAT or ACT test.
It is recommended that you take at least one SAT or ACT test the spring of your junior year and one the fall of your senior year.
Utilize Naviance for career and college exploration and planning!
For more information check out:http://cmhs.schoolloop.com/collegeandcareercenter
Stop by the College & Career Center to make an appointment to discuss college & career options
Reminders!!
Follow Counseling on social media and get updates and reminders about important events deadlines!
www.cmhs.schoolloop.com/costamesa
Instagram @cmhsnextsteps
Facebookwww.facebook.com/cmhsnextsteps
Remind 101 Text Messages Text message @cmhs15-16 to the number 81010 to get text message reminders
Featured ROP Student – January—Susan Bravo

Susan Bravo is one busy senior. She is currently enrolled in the ROP Certified Nursing Assistant course and upon completion will be taking the State CNA test for her license. She has registered for EMT in the spring and will have the opportunity to take the state EMT test at the same time that she graduates from CMHS. Wow! A CNA and EMT license. That is pretty amazing! As if that wasn’t enough on her resume, she has completed the ROP Animal Healthcare class and interned at a local animal hospital/clinic. She says that experience was quite interesting and fun as she worked with pigs, ferrets, chickens, and exotic birds.
After graduation, Susan has applied to several colleges in hopes of continuing her education in the medical field, possibly as a nurse practitioner.
Susan says the ROP classes have offered her a hands on experience and that her CNA internship has taught her much. In caring for these elderly patients she has discovered that, “It’s not like a job. I look at it like I am carry for someone’s family member. And someday, it could be one of mine.” Susan is definitely a stand out student and person! Many ROP spring classes are still open for enrollment and several will be offered during the summer. Come into the career center today and pick up a catalog. Susan Bravo

Students at College Park Elementary participate in the Hour of Code on December 9th.

ASB made great signs to hang on the library walls and lined the sidewalk to the gym!

Come check out the Costa Mesa High School Drama department’s presentation of Shrek The Musical at the Costa Mesa High School Performing Arts Center located at 2650 Fairview Road.

The production will run March 4 through March 13 with Friday and Saturday shows beginning at 7 p.m. and Sunday showings at 4 p.m.

Tickets will be $15 for adults, $10 with ASB and $8 for children 12 and under.

Costa Mesa’s Parks and Community Services Department has been chosen for the 2015 California Park & Recreation Society Award of Excellence for Environmental Stewardship for its Ranch Afterschool Program.

The Ranch Afterschool Program’s collaboration with the OC Fair & Event Center, the City of Costa Mesa, and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, aids in providing a unique after school experience in which students focus on agricultural concepts like gardening, livestock, and leather working.

“The Parks and Community Services Department is honored to receive the California Parks and Recreation Society’s (CPRS) Award of Excellence in Environmental Stewardship, for the Ranch After-School Program,” said Ashley Ocasio, the city’s assistant recreation supervisor. “Children enrolled in this unique program learn first-hand what it means to be a farmer through lessons learned by cultivating farm land, gardening, raising and caring for livestock and creating leather crafts.”

The students have a hands-on experience caring for animals on the Farm which includes: chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas, cattle, and horses. They learn responsible animal care by cleaning stalls, grooming, and exercising the animals.

Additionally, the Farm dedicates land for each student to create and maintain an individual garden. Students’ gardening responsibilities include planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, inspecting for pests and harvesting their plot.

Agricultural education helps children learn about healthy food choices and teaches them different ways to access fresh fruits and vegetables.  Most importantly, students begin to understand the deep impact agriculture has in their lives past, future and present.

“This free program is a true collaboration and would not be possible without the support of the Orange County Fairgrounds,” Ocasio said.  “This strategic partnership provides many Costa Mesa youth the opportunity to experience an unique after-school program, in which the focus in on agriculture and farming”

The California Park & Recreation Society awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of facility design, park planning, marketing and communication, and community improvement and programming through demonstrating the principals of resourcefulness, execution, accomplishment and alignment with the parks and recreation mission.

The presentation of awards will take place at the annual Awards Recognition Banquet scheduled for Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Five players from the OCC Men’s Soccer Team who earned a spot on the 2015 All-Orange Empire Conference Team were honored at City Council meeting on Tuesday Jan. 19.

Ryan Brown, Ty O’Connor and Costa Mesa High School graduate Peter Marquez were named to the first team, while Estancia High School grad Marco Pineda and Taylor Kane earned second-team honors.

This is not only a great individual accomplishment for each of these student athletes, but also a great honor for Orange Coast Athletics.

Early College High School is hosting an informational night on Jan. 28, 2016 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.

ECHS is for those students interested in an alternative to the typical large high school feel, those that are motivated, encouraged and ready for the challenge college classes bring. If this sounds like you, this program may be what you’re looking for. Click here to see a flier about Early College High School.

The R.O.C.K.S After School Program announced that Rea Elementary is an official R.O.C.K.S site.

As of Nov. 16, the site has a total of 19 children registered.

Participants will partake in homework time, games, sports, enrichment activities, and arts and crafts. In addition, once a week, the Fitness Program will lead R.O.C.K.S participants in interactive and fun health, fitness, and nutritional activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle.