The group traveled to LeFlore for their first match in January immediately after Christmas break.  There, MGM’s Hi-Q performed very well and left with a record-high number of points for MGM’s team.  The next match was a month later, held the first week in February on MGM’s campus.  Sponsors Mrs. Hair and Mrs. Hardegree made sure the opposing teams, Citronelle and Vigor were treated to lunch.  The Hi-Q team members made sure the opposing teams were treated to a loss.  MGM was slow to start, but ended the match as victors.  For the home match, potential Hi-Q members received a special invitation to attend the event to see what it is all about.  Mrs. Hardegree said, “We have many seniors on our team who play every match.  We are now looking for some underclassmen who can take their places. ”  If a student thinks he/she has what it takes to compete with Mobile County’s brainiest students, he/she should see Mrs. Hardegree in room 402 or Mrs. Hair in room 406.

Tomorrow the Hi-Q team travels to Baker for their most challenging match yet.   When asked what areas of expertise the MGM team needed to study, Jazmon replied, “Art history for sure.”  Catherine Zivanov commented that her favorite part of preparing for the brain challenge was “Reading Time Magazine with Mrs. Hardegree.”

Hi -Q is a student quiz show that has been around for many years.  The program is sponsored by New Horizons Credit Union, and Bob Grip is the emcee for each event.  To keep up with Hi-Q and how the county’s teams are scoring, one can follow Bob Grip on Twitter or check out his Facebook page.

February 9–Polka Dots Parade

February 11–Mobile Mystics Parade

February 14–LaShe Parade

February 17–Crewe of Columbus Parade

Mardi Gras is in full swing for Mobile, and the MGM Marching Band is ready to perform.  They would like to see Vikings lining the streets to support the band during the parades.  Marching in Mardi Gras parades is a lot of work, and many people would like an inside scoop on what it is like to march the routes.  Alexa Peacock, a member of the flag team, said, “It was long and tiring but very fun.  I enjoyed it.”  Most of the band members gave the same response.  “I love to see the little kids’ faces,” explained Brooke Spivey, dance team captain.

Also in the news is Mr. Bradley Burroughs.  Recently, a group of MGM students attended a high school leadership workshop at Auburn University.  Miss Miller took her leadership students there enrich their leadership training they have received through MGM’s leadership program.  Directing the workshop at Auburn University was Bradley Burroughs who completed leadership training through Miss Miller’s class at MGM before his graduation from MGM in 2011.  As of February 6, Bradley learned he will be the director of Welcome Week 2012 at Auburn University.

Kristina Webb is the student leader of the JROTC.  She is the student who handles everything dealing with all JROTC students and activities.  Only things she can not handle as a student go to the instructors.  Because of this strong leadership role, Kristina is amazed by how much she has grown over the past few years.  She said it feels good to know the true her and her potential are no longer hidden.  She said she feels in JROTC she can be who she was fully meant to be as a person.  Through her years of JROTC, she has participated in almost every activity the program has to offer.  Because of her participation and success in her activities, she has earned the position of the highest ranking student.  The responsibility is a great one, but she loves making decisions and guiding students.

Also in the interview was Romano Gredicek.  Gredicek is the second student in command.  He has also participated in many activities throughout his high school career in JROTC.  He contributes his dad’s military background with his desire to participate in the program.  After high school, he plans to continue along the military path. 

The idea about JROTC being only a step away from enlisting is false.  Many students who particpate in JROTC never enlist in the military after high school.  They would like to dispel the idea that once students join the classes in high school, they are expected to go to boot camp after graduation.  JROTC is in no way a committment to a life in the military.

Also in the interview was Monica Bryars.  Monica said she has definitely developed her personality and confidence through her involvement in JROTC.  She is more prepared for life now that she has learned leadership roles from her responsibilities as a cadet.  She is the JROTC liaison for MGM for publicity for the group.  She works to let the public know about JROTC’s successes and record their history. 

JROTC offers a variety of activities for students.  Students may be interested in orienteering where they are taught to think and maneuver through forests and wooded areas.  Students may like the exhibition side of JROTC where precision and knowledge of weapons is important.  Students who are interested in physical fitness may choose to participate in the physical training competitions.  There is also a scholar team of JROTC students who compete in knowledge.  The group is also trained by Junior Achievement representatives.  After their training, the JROTC cadets go to different elementary schools to teach elementary students about things like money management, wants versus needs and citizenship.  The group is passionate about service to the community.  They take pride in their good behavior and they way they represent their program. 

JROTC competes all throughout the year.  MGM’s group is dedicated to practice and competition, and they have placed in the state in most competitions and reign as state champions in several divisions.

Absences do begin fresh for the new school semester.  Because of being in all new classes, student absences are counted per class.  Students should be aware of tardies and early dismissals which require a student to miss and entire block.  While the student may not be absent the entire day, the student is still absent from an entire class. This, therefore, counts as an absence for that class.  Only four parent notes are allowed per class (for whole semester classes) before the absences are automatically changed to unexcused.

This year, the pageant is being split into two nights because so many people attend.  The ninth and tenth grade girls will compete on Thursday night, and the eleventh and twelfth grade girls will compete on Friday night.  On Friday night, the ninth and tenth grade beauties will be presented as Thursday’s winners in addition to being presented on Thursday night.  Mrs. King-Durham is happy with the new split pageant.  She believes it will help with ticket sales as well as lessen the stress backstage. 

To be a contestant in the pageant, an MGM young lady must fall under certain guidelines.  Each candidate must have a 2.0 grade point average and no grades less than a “D” for the prior semester.  Also, each young lady must have a satisfactory conduct record.  No suspensions or retract assignments are allowed.  The young lady must not have been assigned to more than two after-school suspension dates for the school year.  Mid-year graduates are not allowed to participate in the pageant.  Candidates must be on time and stay for the entire time for each rehearsal.  If she does not follow this rule, she will be dismissed from the pageant. 

While there have a been a few changes in the pageant rules and procedures for this year, one thing remains constant.  Vikings will be sure to be treated to a couple nights of entertainment and beautiful young ladies.

MGM leadership classes are holding a blood drive on Wednesday, February 8 and Friday, February 10.  Students who are assisting the Red Cross as blood drive workers are asked to leave class a few minutes early to report to their shifts to allow for a smooth transition between volunteers. 

Leadership has two goals for this blood drive:  to save lives and to exceed 200 blood donors.  MGM is currently ranked fifteen in the nation for blood drive donations, and the Vikings would like to keep climbing up that list.  MGM is ranked first in the region for donors.  This is a great accomplishment, so please, sign up to donate blood. 

Reminders for donors:

Eat a big, healthy breakfast.

Stay hydrated.

Do not forget your donation time.

Give blood in the auditorium then report straight back to class.

Each student who donates blood will receive a wristband.  This wristband will be the students’ passes back to class. 

Miss Miller is the leadership teacher of Mary G. Montgomery.  She has organized our school blood drive for several years, and the number of donors on our campus has grown.  Now, the blood drive has been expanded to two days on our campus, and we would love to have community support.  Please read the note below from Miss Miller.

Our second blood drive of the year will be held on Wednesday, February 8 and Friday, February 10 in the auditorium.  We are having a two-day drive because the Red Cross can no longer handle our number of donors in one day.  We are currently ranked 15th in the nation for units collected among all high schools that hold Red Cross blood drives.  Our goal is to break into the top ten this year.  To do so, we need to collect at least 200 units of blood at the February drive.  My leadership students are visiting 3rd block classes this week to register donors, or students can come by room 405 to sign up.  Please encourage your students to give, and please consider donating blood yourself.  As always, I appreciate your support!

Thanks,

Allison Miller

If you are a member of the community and would like to support the Vikings in reaching their 200 pints goal, then please visit the school’s auditorium either of the two blood drive dates.  You will be moved to the front of the line to make your wait as short as possible.  Thank you for giving blood, and thank you for making MGM shine in the spotlight.

The teachers opened the pageant with a dance number to music from the 80s, and they each designed their own outfit to reflect their 80s style.  After introducing themselves, they showed some eighties personality.  Each contestant had a short biography read about what she was doing during the 80s.  Because of the age range of the teachers, the biographies reflected everything from potty training to high school.  Once the teachers finished their decades-old personalities, they changed into evening wear.  True to the decade, the evening gowns were satiny and pouffy-sleeved dreams.  While wearing her evening gown from the 1980s, each participant was asked a question about her life from the decade such as, “What band would you want to see in concert from the 80s?” 

In addition to the entertainment from the Golden Apple hopefuls, the audience was also treated to a slide show of various MGM teachers from the 80s.  The students in attendance were humored by the big hair and styles their teachers showed from 30 years ago. 

Judges were here to make the final determination of who would receive the big, golden apple for the year.  Mrs. Marcy Miller, a 1990 graduate of MGM and current teacher in the MCPSS, was here to judge.  Also to judge, Mrs. Kerra Smith was back to visit her alma mater as a break from her daily routine as an elementary teacher for the MCPSS.  Mrs. Janice Ross paid a visit to her former students as a judge.  Mrs. Ross recently retired from MGM as a business teacher and sponsor of FBLA. 

The judges made the decision at the end to honor Mrs. Rachel Graham and Mrs. Chastity Touchstone as runners-up.  The 2012 Ms. Golden Apple is Mrs. Holly Meek. 

While the pageant was a nice break from our normal academia at MGM, the assembly was also a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  All the money raised from ticket sales for the pageant will go toward reaching MGM’s goal for Relay for Life.  During the pageant, a short video was played to show those in the audience how money donated to the American Cancer Society is used.

Another requirement for attending the Prom is the payment of junior dues.  If a student has not paid his/her junior dues to the junior class sponsors, he/she will not receive an invitation to the Prom.  Dues can be paid to Mrs. Price in room 113.  The dues are currently $60.  The dues will increase to $70 on February 1.  Juniors and seniors who have paid their Junior class dues will all receive one Prom ticket.  If a junior or senior is bringing a non junior or senior from MGM, he/she may purchase an additional ticket.