Members of Mrs. Karen Elofson's Introduction to Engineering class are in the process of taking on a real-life challenge: constructing a transport system that can move the new "Mario Brothers" mini-golf course which is part of the math and art Interdisciplinary project.  
The newly designed and contructed holes and golf apparatus must be safely moved between storage (here at MHS) and the Jordan Jackson Elementary School where it will be used to explore math concepts.  The challenge to the class is to do it in one week, while incorporating the engineering design process and staying within a very limited budget ($200 or less) while being able to carry at least 400 lbs.  Five teams of students brainstormed over the last week and came up with different solutions that were judged by members of the school faculty and administration as the "best solution." 

 

The winning design, pictured at the right, was constructed with balsa wood at a 1:16 scale.  The class will be constructing the actual transport device with plywood, plastic wheels, and various hardware in the coming weeks.  Good luck!

The guidance department began a series of workshops with the junior class last month regarding college planning.  Students attended two assemblies with PowerPoint presentations on the SATs and ACTs and their role in the college admission process.  Students were also introduced to Naviance, a software program that allows students to research colleges, complete an interest inventory and perform many other functions pertaining to college and career searches.  There will be one more assembly this week to provide students with an overview of the college selection process.  At each session, students are given copies of the PowerPoint presentations, which are posted under "Guidance" on the MHS website as well.  

 

On Wednesday February 10, the guidance department is offering College Planning Night, a workshop for parents, students and families at 6:30pm in the auditorium.   An overview of the college process will be discussed.  Ms. Susan Beard, Director of Financial Aid at Wheaton College, will be a guest speaker.

Beginning in March the guidance department will be offering "Coffee Hours" where each counselor will meet with small groups of parents of current juniors to answer any questions they may have about the college process.  Each session will run from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.  If you are interested, please contact your student's guidance counselor at 508-261-7540 to reserve a seat.  The hours by counselor are as follows: Daniel Fitzgerald, extension 3122, assigned to students with the last name beginning with A-B, March 2, 10, 18. Tina Karidoyanes, extension 3108, students with last names beginning with C-Gi, March 4, 12, 16.  Dawn Martin, extension 3106, students with last names beginning with Go-Mo, March 5, 9, 17.  Amy Cannon, extension 3109, students with last names beginning with Mu-Z, March 3, 11, 19.  We hope you can join us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday January 29, 2010, six Mansfield High School students attended the DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)District Conference at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield.  Close to 500 students from surrounding schools (King Philip, Franklin, Stoughton, Brockton, Southeastern, Dighton Rehoboth, Taunton, Somerset and Easton) attended the conference.   Mansfield, the smallest team at the conference, had two out of its three teams win medals.

Schools attending the conference can compete in a variety of events such as individual events, team events and written events.  In both the individual and team events, students have to complete a 100-question test, and then they have to analyze a case study and present their information about the case study to a judge.  Written events range from 11 to 30 pages in length and are judged by Johnson and Wales University faculty and students after oral presentations from the high school students.

Josh Marohn and Amanda Eardley both juniors, competed in the Buying and Merchandising team event.  There were close to 20 teams competing in this event.  The team of Marohn and Eardley were awarded a third place medal at the conference. The team of Chris Nugent and Shane Roy, both sophomores competed in the Business Law and Ethics team event.  This team was awarded a 1st place medal for their outstanding performance.  The team of Lei Meli and Mikaela O'Brien competed in the Hospitality event and did an outstanding job in a very competitive event. 

The teams that placed in the conference are qualified to attend the state conference in March.

 

Pictured above, from left to right, are Shane Roy, Chris Nugent, Lei Meli, Mikaela O'Brien, Josh Marohn, and Amanda Eardley.  Congrats to them and business club advisor Mrs. Judy Foley!