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Reitz Memorial High School |
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Reitz Memorial High School is a Christ-centered Catholic community which educates all students to their highest potential by developing religious values, providing excellence in education, and fostering a commitment to service.
Vision Statement
Providing an environment where God inspires, we educate, students thrive
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| October 2012 |
2012-2013 School Year
Issue No.3 |
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Teen Read Week 10/14-10/20
Mrs. Greenfield has planned!! |
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Greetings!
There is a wonderful opportunity coming up this November for Juniors and older to take some time away for retreat with high school students from around the diocese. On November 3-5 there will be a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat in Ireland, Indiana, close to Jasper. I would really encourage your students to attend. It is a great chance for them to strengthen their faith and spend some time with young people their age. For more information or to apply, you can visit www.switec.org.
I want to again offer my services to all of you and all of our students. Please feel free to contact me if you think it would be helpful for me to touch base with your son or daughter at school. We are doing our best to make sure we are tending to their needs and working for their benefit. Let's continue to pray for each other as we do this work of educating and forming our young people.
Peace,
Fr. Alex
Reitz Memorial High School
Chaplain
Fellowship:
The Vocation Office of the Diocese of Evansville is sponsoring the 5th annual Massive Chili Fire. It will be held on Sunday, October 14th at the Hilltop Grove (3714 Detroy Road in Evansville). This is a gathering for young adults (ages 18-35) to get together for Mass,chili and a fire. There are no expectations and you don't need to bring anything; it's just a chance to enjoy the company of those your age. We will gather at 4:30 pm, with Mass at 5:00 pm and the food and fun will follow. For more information contact Fr. Alex Zenthoefer at azenthoefer@evdio.org or call Cathy Crowdus at 424-5536. Download Flyer |
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From the Desk of the President
Brother Lawrence Murphy
We, at Reitz Memorial, are very proud of the young men and women who make up our student body. We are convinced that they are some of the finest young men and women in Evansville. They are very gifted but they are also very blessed that they have families that are willing to sacrifice, in order to give them a top quality, value-centered, Catholic education.
Great blessings bring with them great responsibilities. There is an internet article that seeks to put this in perspective. It suggests that we take the entire world's population and reduce it to one hundred people. If we did this, we would have a population from which we could create percentages. This article suggests that these percentages would look like the following.
"If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following. There would be:
- 57 Asians.
- 21 Europeans.
- 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south.
- 8 Africans.
- Of these, 52 would be female.
- 48 would be male.
- 70 would be non-white.
- 30 would be white.
- 70 would be non-Christian.
- 30 would be Christian.
- 6 people would possess 59 per cent of the world's wealth and all 6 would come from the United States.
- 80 would live in substandard housing.
- 70 would be unable to read.
- 50 would suffer from malnutrition.
- 1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth.
- 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education.
- 1 would own a computer.
When we reduce the world to this proportion, we appreciate how privileged our students are. They are the most blessed young men and women in the world! In our village of one hundred people, our students are most likely the one with the computer, the one with the college education. They also have a significant part of the world's resources at their disposal. Because of their gift of education, wealth and resources, we believe that our young people will be tomorrow's leaders and that we must help them decide what kind of world to build. To what kind of world will they bear witness? Will it be a world characterized by opulent materialism and waste, violence, injustice and oppression? Will it be a world in which we recognize the dignity, value and importance of all of God's creatures? The gospel tells us that as Christians, we are called to bear witness to God's loving presence in the world.
The challenge for all of us, the members of the Reitz Memorial community, is to help our students understand their role as Christ centered leaders. We are called to work in partnership with our students and our parents so that all of our students' can not only discover and maximize all of their potential, but they can also use these talents to create a more Christ centered world.
I am enclosing with this letter a copy of the story, The Father's Gift, I hope that you enjoy it.
May God bless you and your families.
Br. Lawrence T. Murphy, C.F.C.
President
The Father's Gift by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown A young man was getting ready to graduate. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words PAID IN FULL. How many times do we miss God's blessings because we can't see past our own desires? When do we learn that the people in our lives are more important than the things in our lives and that our relationships, particularly with our loved ones and families are irreplaceable. |
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Principal
Mrs. Cyndi Schneider
Every person connected to Reitz Memorial High School seeks to fulfill our school mission. We long to create a Christ-centered Catholic community which educates all students to their highest potential by developing religious values, providing excellence in education, and fostering a commitment to service. We seek to make Memorial High School a place respected by the community, valued by its members, and honored in the eyes of God. We can complete this task... together, but it takes a village.
Thank you again for choosing Memorial for your child's education, who serve through our parent organizations, and who pray for our school, our staff, and our students daily. You make a difference.
Cynthia Schneider, Principal
Reitz Memorial High School
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Asst. Principal (Curriculum & Instruction)
Mrs. Lisa Popham
End of First Quarter: October 11, 2012 is the end of First Quarter. Check your child's grades, ask them how they are feeling about their performance, and encourage them to seek assistance in areas they are lacking confidence.
 Luncheon: Thursday, October 4 beginning @ 11:00 AM Leadership essay winners from Memorial and Mater Dei will be recognized and have the opportunity to meet some of the area's top business leaders and event sponsors. Download Flyer
Graduation Announcements:
Balfour will be at school on Oct. 31, 2012 to provide the Senior Class with information about ordering Graduation Announcements.
How to order Graduation Announcements: On-line at www.balfour.com, November 6th during all lunches a Balfour representative will be in the cafeteria.
$70 deposit is required when the order is placed. The remaining balance will be due when the student picks up their announcements. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted.
Delivery Date to be announced in early 2013. Graduation Announcements will be delivered to the school. The announcements will be available for pickup during all lunch periods. The student will need a check or cash for the remaining balance to pick up the announcements.
For additional information you may contact Balfour at (800) 844-1730.
8th Grade Visitation Days:
8th Grade Student Visitation Days will be held at Memorial High School on Tuesday, October 30th and Friday, November 2nd. Arrangements have been made for the 8th graders in our east-side feeder schools to attend. If your child does not attend one of the east-side feeder schools and they are interested in coming to Memorial High School, this is a great way for the student to learn more about our school. If you would like more information or would like to make a reservation, please call 476-4973, ext. 205 or ext. 221 or email: Catie Diefenbaugh
The Reitz Memorial High School 2012 Open House for prospective students will be held Thursday November 8th, from 6:00-8:00 PM. The Open House is for any student in the fifth through eighth grades along with their parents. This is a great opportunity to visit Memorial High School and have your questions answered. Departmental displays will be featured and teachers from each department will be available for questions and information. Information about financial assistance will also be available. To be added to our mailing list email: Mrs. Diefenbaugh
CEF Tuition Assistance: The Catholic Education Foundation will provide tuition assistance based on financial need for qualifying students wishing to attend the 2013-2014 school year at Reitz Memorial High School. Parents may apply who have students currently in grades 8,9,10, or 11. This year the deadline for applying for priority consideration is December 14, 2012. Notification will be by the end of January, 2013. By October 1, 2012, CEF Applications may be downloaded, completed, emailed and printed from the Reitz Memorial High School website. Click here to visit the webpage. By October 15, 2012, hard copies of CEF applicaitons will be available at Evansville Catholic high schools and grade schools as well as parish offices. If you have questions, please contact cef@evdio.org or call 812.402.6700 x 302 Future Problem Solving: Future Problem Solving is open to all students. A six step problem solving program is taught and 4 member team competitions are held in October, December, February, & April. This year's topics include: Culture of Celebrities, Robotic Age, Megacities, Ocean Soup. Scenario Writing is another Component of FPS. Short stories about one of the above topics is set at least 20 years in the future. Coaching is provided. For more information or to enroll, contact Melanie Humbert at 270-831-0701 or email |
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Asst. Principal (Student Services)
Mr. Rick Wilgus
Notes for Medical Appointment: According to page 10 of the Student-Parent Handbook, students who have an appointment and must leave school are required to bring a written note from the parent or guardian before 7:25 a.m. to the Assistant Principal for Student Services on the day of the appointment.
Verified Absence: On the day of a student absence, a parent or guardian should inform the school by phone (476-4973, ext. 204) between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Parents not calling the school will receive a phone call via Parent Connect to call the above number to verify the absence. Unverified absences indicate that the student was absent without consent of the parent, therefore NO make-up work will be permitted. Students should be in school or have a parent verify EACH absence; we strive to know the whereabouts of our students at all times.
Off Campus Parking: Be a good neighbor and show respect towards other people's property is the easiest way to eliminate parking problems. Faculty and our Police Liaison will again help with problems including improper parking, loitering, smoking and trespassing. Students are subject to school discipline as well as civil laws.
Please remember the front drive is a right turn only when exiting onto Lincoln Avenue. This helps reduce congestion and prevents accidents. Please obey parking regulations when picking up students after school or extra curricular activities. Parking in the lot in front of Villa Maria, the building directly east of the school, is not allowed at any time. We want very much for Memorial to be a good community member. It takes Staff, Parents, and Students to make this happen.
Selective Service: All male students are required to register with the Selective service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. This registration only takes a few minutes and can be found online www.sss.gov |
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Mrs. Andrea McKinney-First part of Alphabet
Mrs. Laurie Koop-Second part of Alphabet
Test Prep Tutorials: An online SAT Preparations course is being offered by IVY Tech this fall through ed2go link. This course will be available in two parts and the cost is $88 for each part. Courses begin on the 3rd Wednesday of each month and last 6 months.
USI offers SAT tutorials on two Saturdays 9 AM- 3 PM. Dates are not available yet, although the course was offered in October last year. It is recommended, register early, space is limited. You can read about the program by clicking here.
PSAT Testing: All Memorial Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday October 17th. Students do not need to formerly register. A students score on this test can make him/her eligible for scholarships.
Please encourage your students to prepare for this test through the use of the practice exam provided in this booklet and by getting a good night's sleep the night before and eating a good breakfast the morning of the test. A student's score can make him/her eligible for scholarships. One in particular is the National Merit Award which all Juniors are eligible to compete for. This year the State of Indiana will pay the $14 test fee for the Sophomores only. Junior families will be charged $14 on their billing statement to cover the cost. Waivers are available to the same students who would be eligible for a waiver for the SAT/ACT. The PSAT test results will be sent home between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
SAT/ACT
Important Facts:
- Sign Up as early as possible. Certain dates fill up quickly
- Take both the ACT/SAT as some students will do better on one than the other. Most colleges accept the higher of two scores. A few colleges will only accept ACT or SAT scores. It is best to be prepared with scores from both tests. The Written portion of the ACT is optional. Most schools are requiring a writing test, it is advised that students take the writing portion of both tests.
- Please remember to include Memorial's School Code (150980) on registrations on-line and via mail to ensure we receive score reports to include on each students transcripts.
- The NCAA doesn't accept scores from transcripts. They must come directly from ACT/SAT headquarters. The student should indicate NCAA code (9999) when registering.
- Check your students reported ACT/SAT scores on Parent Connect to verify the scores are correct. These are manually input, mistakes can and will happen.
- Waivers are available for ACT/SAT to cover the cost of taking the test. Contact your child's counselor to see if your family meets the financial criteria. Criteria includes: eligible for free & reduced lunch, textbook assistance, & 21st Century Scholar Program. Income guideline are posted on the ACT & SAT websites.
SAT Test Dates ACT Test Dates
10/6/12 Registration Deadline 9/7/12
11/3/12 Registration Deadline 10/4/12 *10/27/12 Registration Deadline 9/21/12
12/1/12 Registration Deadline 11/1/12 *12/8/12 Registration Deadline 11/2/12
1/26/13 Registration Deadline 12/28/12 *2/9/13 Registration Deadline 1/11/13
3/9/13 Registration Deadline 2/8/13 *4/13/13 Registration Deadline 3/8/13
5/4/13 Registration Deadline 4/5/13 *6/8/13 Registration Deadline 5/3/13
* Memorial is a test center for this date.
Indianapolis National College Fair: The Indianapolis National College Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 11 from 9am-12pm and 6-8pm at the Indiana Convention Center. More than 200 colleges will be attending. You can also talk with counselors about choosing a major, financial aid, and scholarship information. Attendees can attend
workshops about financial aid, standardized testing, the application process, and more. For more information and to register, visit: www.gotomyncf.com. You can also go to www.nationalcollegefairs.org for an updated list of participating colleges and universities.
Scholarships: Throughout the year a detailed description of each scholarship application currently available in the Counseling Office is posted on the website: Bookmark this page. They will also be listed in the daily announcements.
Other helpful scholarship websites include:
www.fastweb.com
www.in.gov/ssaci/2359.htm for Indiana scholarships and grant opportunities
http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/ for more information on grants (Pell Grants, etc)
Keep in mind that the deadlines for automatic scholarships are coming up! The deadline for Indiana University is November 1 this year and Purdue is November 15th. Check each school's website for important dates and deadlines.
Net Price Calculator: All undergraduate institutions that award Title IV federal aid are required to offer a net price calculator on their website that provides students and families with an estimated cost to attend their college. "Net price" is the amount students would be expected to pay after grants and scholarships are deducted from the cost of attendance. College Board also has a net price calculator on their website, http://netpricecalculator.collegeboard.org/. This is a great step in helping families make informed decisions about college.
Common Applications: Over 250 Colleges and Universities share a common application to undergraduate programs. For these colleges, students can complete one Common Application and send it to any of the participating colleges. Students must still check a school's web site for additional information or material that must be supplied. To get started go to www.commonapp.org. Seniors were given the steps to follow when using Common App & Parchment during HR visits (Bright Orange Paper)
Attention Memorial Athletes: If there is any chance your student's future may include participation in a sport at a Division l, ll, or lll College/University, registration with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Eligibility Center is required. Students can now register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org Since counselors, Mrs. McKinney and Mrs. Koop are not aware of all of Memorial High School athletes, it is important parents and/or students notify their counselors so core courses can be monitored. It is recommended students register with the Eligibility Center (NCAA) after the completion of Junior Year. In fact, Seniors discover that a prospective coaches' first question is often "Are you registered with the Eligibility Center?" If the answer is no, coaches won't talk with them.
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I wanted to share this article written by Youth First Social Worker, Mark Luzader. Youth First has weekly articles featured in the Courier & Press address student and family concerns.
Struggling Children Need Proactive Parenting
All children have their struggles. Some struggle to reach developmental milestones on time or can't read or write as well as their peers. Others can't manage their emotions when the "least little thing" gets in their way.
In every school, there are children who seem as if they are doing just fine on the outside and their struggles remain hidden. Other children who have the most overt battles are very well-known by school staff.
When children struggle, parents struggle, too. Being an active parent means standing guard against any number of obstacles that can get in the way of a healthy upbringing for your child. Barriers can come from any direction - academic, medical, emotional, or social.
When problems occur, we sometimes have a hard time knowing what to do, so we try to adapt as best we can, even to the detriment of our child. That's when we find ourselves faced with some difficult questions like:
How many walls should you patch before you consider mental health treatment?
What's the difference between being proactive and overreacting?
How do parents work through their own denial and start addressing problems?
One good guide for measuring readiness for change is the Transtheoretical model (TTM) developed by James O. Prochaska. Prochaska and his colleagues identified six stages of change. Each stage has specific processes that must be worked through in order to move to the next one.
Three of these stages (Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Preparation) involve breaking through denial, coming to grips with the fact that there is a problem and preparing to do something about it. The last three stages (Action, Maintenance,and Termination) involve the work of actually changing, preserving the change that has taken place, and termination of the work once there is no chance of relapse of the old behavior.
When time is a luxury, this model does a nice job of explaining the process for how change occurs. Unfortunately, life doesn't always happen on our schedules. When we are reactive to life's unpredictability, oftentimes we don't respond as well as we could have if we had some warning.
The start of school is an exciting time for most kids, filled with new possibilities and new experiences. For parents of children who struggle in some area, this also can be a time of worry. One of the best ways to address that now is to be proactive. Stay in touch with your child's teacher instead of waiting for the dreaded phone call or letter.
Come by the school until you know all the staff members who work with your child. If your child is in therapy, don't be afraid to ask for a family session so you can all be on the same page.
For an indication of how the future will be, look at the past. Despite how most children feel, their problems didn't magically disappear when school lets out for the summer.
Last year's problems will be this year's problems unless you, as the parent, do something differently now. Don't worry about being over-reactive, especially if you're working to prevent problems. If you have moved through the first three stages of change before someone has pushed you through them, you're halfway home. A proactive parent is what every child needs.
Lauren Lesher, LCSW
Youth First School Social Worker
Reitz Memorial High School |
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Athletic Director
Mr. Bruce Dockery
Gene "Coach" Logel
Reitz Memorial High School Endowment
The Gene Logel Reitz Memorial High School Endowment was established in the Spring of 1991 by family and friends. The purpose of the endowment is to support academic, athletic and extra-curricular activities of Reitz Memorial High School. Towards the end of each academic year, the Gene Logel Endowment committee, consisting of the school's principal, selected faculty, and Logel family members review application requests for funding programs, projects and curriculum related materials that most likely would not be full or partially funded in any other manner.
Over the past 20 years, since the Endowment's inception, an estimated $50,000 has been provided to Memorial High School academic, athletic and extra curricular programs and activities. This continues to be possible not only by virtue of a portion of the annual endowment interest coming back to Memorial, but also by the addition of continued contributions from family and friends of Reitz Memorial High School.
While Coach Logel had a direct positive impact on the lives of many students and faculty in his 34 years of teaching and coaching at Memorial, this endowment ensures that his "spirit" continues to impact the lives of existing students and those yet to come! Thus, to support this endowment, your contribution can be sent to Reitz Memorial High School with a note indicating: Gene Logel Endowment.
Submitted by Mark Logel, son of Gene Logel, on behalf of the Logel Family & the Gene Logel Reitz Memorial Endowment Fund.
The administration, faculty, & staff of Reitz Memorial High School wishes to thank the Logel Family for their generosity in establishing this endowment for the benefit of Reitz Memorial students. Any questions about this fund may be directed to Mrs. Becky Nimnicht at Memorial ( beckynimnicht@reitzmemorial.org ) 812-476-4793 ext. 239 or Mr. Mark Logel ml44@evansville.edu 812/488-2027(Home), 812/488-2941 (Work)
Tigerettes to host dance clinic for K-8 students: Saturday November 10, 2012. Click to download flyer and registration
Band/Guard host Scrapbooking crop: Save the Date...October 19, 2012. Click here to download flyer. |
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RMHS Patron's Club Next Meeting: The next Patron's Club membership meeting will be on Wednesday, October 10th @ 6:00 PM in the Media Center. All Parents are encouraged to attend! See what exciting things we are doing for the school and students. If you have any questions contact Michelle Paris at 925-7425(Home), 455-8881(Cell) or email Download Patron's Club Application Here
Book Sale: Checks from books sold during the used book sale on August 7th have been processed. They should be mailed by the 3rd week of October. For those who signed up to work the used book committee this school year, please check the January/February newsletters for the meeting date in February to discuss changes and set the criteria for working on this committee. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Sallee Barnett 812.454.4536
PATRON'S CLUB FALL FIESTA PARTY
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Believe it or not, November is just around the corner. The theme has been selected and preparations for the Fall Fiesta Party are in full gear with a very capable crew planning an evening of fun and excitement. The Fall Party is an annual fundraiser that helps raise money for the Patron's Club to assist in purchasing much needed supplies for our school. We will have the usual Big Raffle, Silent Auction, door prizes, food, and a whole lot of fun. We also have several new events we think are very exciting. Take your siesta before the party gets started and come join all the fun. Please mark your calendar on NOVEMBER 14th, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. and continue to watch the newsletter for more information.
If you are interested in volunteering, we still have plenty of things you can do. Please contact us ASAP.
Kristin Danheiser-455-0001, Leanne Maurer 319.9290, Kerrie Weinzapfel 457.9528
HOMEROOM THEME BASKETS PATRON'S CLUB FALL PARTY
Parents, you will be receiving a letter asking for a monetary donation towards your child's homeroom theme basket. We will be assembling baskets from each grade to be auctioned at the fall party. Please send in your donation to the office by Monday, October 15, 2012. Mark the envelope "Patron's Club Homeroom basket and your child's homeroom". Thank you for your participation in this event. If you have any additional questions, please contact Traci Woodruff 812.909.1000.
NEW ADDITION TO FALL FIESTA PARTY
This year we are adding another element to the Fall Fiesta Party. We are taking applications for vendors to have a table showcasing their products to sell at the event. This will be on a first come, first served basis so make sure you contact Jenny Mitchell to apply and reserve your space. Contact Jenny at 812.459.6330 or antjennysknits@yahoo.com
MHS Spirituality & Field Day 2012: Memorial will be celebrating for the 3rd time our Spirituality and Field Day on Friday, October 12, 2012. In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, students will begin the day with a special Mass, followed by an inspirational speaker, team-building field events, and end the day with the Homecoming Assembly.
In order to fund the event, Memorial is accepting monetary donations from families and businesses willing to contribute. All donors will have their name and logo printed on the back of the MHS Field Day T-shirts which will be given to all students and faculty. Please see the attached form at the end of the newsletter if you are willing to donate. To make the day run smoothly, we need many parent volunteers to manage field activities. If interested, please contact Ms. Kim Murphy at kimmurphy@evdio.org
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September Lottery Winners
Thank you to all of our Lottery ticket buyers for 2012. The 2013 Tradition Lottery tickets will be available for purchase soon!
Congratulations to the September winners!
$10,000 -Ticket #1541 - Jeff & Connie Huff
$1,500 -Ticket #2739 - JD & Marsha LcClere
$1,000 -Ticket #1403 - Bill Speicher
$500 -Ticket #2115 - Carol Learned
License #126389
Enrollment for 2012-2013 & 2013-2014 School Year
If you know a family new to the area or a family you feel would be a good fit in the Tiger community, take a moment to pass along their names. Contact Kira Vaal @ 476-4973 ext. 301 or via email kiravaal@evdio.org |
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November Newsletter Deadline is October 19th. Please have all submissions to Mrs. Diefenbaugh catiediefenbaugh@evdio.org. Please email attachments. Thank you. |
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