For the Parents, Students, Staff & Community of Middletown High School

MiddletownHigh School

Main Office240-236-7400Fax Number240-236-7450

PrincipalDenise Fargo-Devine

Assistant PrincipalsLee Jeffrey

Chris Bittner

Guidance DepartmentSue Mentzer-Blair

Caitlin EckertBrad GeorgePaula Langley

School Support TeacherKevin Lynott

Websitemhs.fcps.org

Volume 8Issue 5

June 2014

Principal’s Message Final Newsletter of the year and final edition for me: I thought I’d leave with random shots and reflections.

• MHS students are friendly and respectful.

• The MHS community is very supportive of the schools in our feeder.

• The clergy in the “Valley” meet regularly and partner with the schools as appropriate to meet the needs of our families.

• The staff is amazingly dedicated to the education of our students.

• The Class of 2014’s mantra is: Stay Classy! They have lived up to that.

• Our motto is and will be: Ready, Respectful and Relentless.

• I often find that before I can walk from the cafeteria to the office to contact a parent, the call is coming into the school – students can text really fast!

• Speaking of technology – it’s our friend but also our biggest challenge.

• Many of our staff graduated from MHS and have lived and worked here for their entire lives.

• High quality is evident in all that we do – drama, concerts, recitals, performances, athletics, art show, Ag Day, Knee High Knights, service projects.

• We are proud to be Knights, but avoid being arrogant.

• Academic rigor is a part of our daily routine.

• Some personal reflections: I can’t remember a two-year span in my professional life that I have been as busy as this has; however, I also cannot remember a time that has been equally gratifying and exciting.

• I feel like the most blessed and lucky person in the world – I have four families – my personal family, my school family in Ohio (14 years) – my FHS family (28 years) – my MHS family (2 years).

• I am kind of a “softie” and graduations always get to me; this one will be very special not because it is my last; but, because it represents the delightful experience I have had at MHS. Thank you to everyone I have met and those with whom I have worked.

• I wish for all Knights to come – much happiness and success!

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A Tradition of Excellence

-- Knowledge, Creativity,

Strength, Leadership

MHS Mission:

‘Knight Letter’June 2014

Published Five Times Per YearFrederick County Public Schools

191 South East StreetFrederick, MD 21701

Issue #5

We have in our possession lost or forgotten items such as clothes, sneaks, glasses, and jewelry, to name a few. If your student misplaced or lost anything during the school year, please have them stop by the office to check items to see if they may belong to them. We will keep found items in the school until June 20. After June 20, items will be given to a charitable organization and glasses recycled.

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BACCALAUREATE IS HERE The MHS PTSA-sponsored Baccalaureate, to be held Monday, May 26, at 7 p.m., in the MHS Auditorium, is a faith-based, celebratory evening gathering of seniors, families, and friends to enjoy music, inspirational thoughts by their fellow graduates and a reminiscent slide show. Seniors should arrive at 6:30 p.m. with their graduation gowns (no caps). Everyone is invited to the reception following the service.

LAST PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR Our last meeting is Tuesday, June 11, at 7 p.m., in the media center. The program will be an MDS3 (Maryland Safe and Supportive Schools) Update. Everyone is welcome.

TEACHER APPRECIATION THANKS The MHS PTSA-sponsored Teacher Appreciation week was held April 28 to May 2. Teachers and support staff received tokens of appreciation in their mailboxes throughout the week, raffle drawings with five winners each day, and the opportunity to receive a massage from students from the Central MD School of Massage and take a Zumba class with Encore Fitness. Staff members were well fed with a continental breakfast, a pizza party by SGA, dessert day, and a Mexican lunch spread. The PTSA would like to thank all the parents who contributed food for the breakfast and luncheon, businesses that contributed raffle items to make this week a great success, and the committee that put this week together. We really appreciate the staff at MHS; hopefully, we gave them a week to remember!

COMMITTEE:Kim ArnoldNiralynn BullenCassie DonaldsonCheryl Anne Forster Ashley FrushourKaren HeidemannChristy KehlbeckStephanie MekkelsonApril MillerLeAnn MooreMonica MorehouseAngie PickhardtPatty RaczEthel Wood

BUSINESSES THAT CONTRIBUTED:ArbonneBombshell Salon & Boutique, Inc.Brew’d Pub & RestaurantChem DryChic to ChicFountaindale Auto CenterFreddie’s SubsGold’s GymJames GangKen’s Automotive & TransmissionsLittle Red Barn Ice Cream CaféMaggie’s Bake ShopSafewaySouth Mountain CreameryStonefield BuildersThe Auto SpaThe Pool Medic, LLCTrinity Salon & SpaUncle RalphsWay Off BroadwayWood Family (Duane & Ethel)

MHS PTSA News

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Middletown Sport and Spine Clinic

205 B South Church Street

301-371-8121Conveniently located in the Heart of Middletown

The Physical Therapists for the Frederick Keys!

110% REHAB

Our caring and knowledgeable therapists will develop a sport-specific program

to return you quickly to your sport and prevent unnecessary injuries!

Your team expects you to perform at 110%,You should expect the same from your physical therapist!

MHS Media Center Summer is coming and it’s a perfect time to relax with a great book. Frederick County Public librarians and Frederick County School librarians teamed up recently to create summer reading lists for students. Check out the lists on the MHS media center page: http://education.fcps.org/mhs/mediacenter.

Middletown Branch Library Middletown graduating class! Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now. Yes, now. It is your time to show and to do. Show yourself all you are capable of … Do what you love, what you like, and even that ‘stuff’ you don’t like! And do it well; because you can! Congratulations! Your future is now, and in the words of Albert Schweitzer, “Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.” Perhaps in the doing, you will stop by the Middletown Branch Library this summer for a teen program, a great book, or movie, perhaps an audio. Or if you are traveling, or if it is midnight, you will use the download apps for books, audios, music? And then plan an experience …

& Dynamic Dads, Tuesday, June 3, at 3 p.m. What to do but celebrate that Dynamic Dad in your life! Father’s Day is just around the corner

and it is time to show that special Dad or special person just how dynamic they are!

& Countdown to Summer Sparks Movie and Sizzling Pizza ***, Thursday, June 19, at 3 p.m.

The countdown has begun … ten, nine, eight … What movie to pick? Help choose, enjoy a movie and some pizza! Bring a friend or two. *** Registration required

& Chain Reaction Jewelry, Tuesday, June 24, at 3 p.m. Scribble, scribble, inspiration and designs, craft something unique just for you … or that

special someone.

& Reactions: Don’t Try This …, Tuesday, July 1, at 3 p.m. … at the Library. Get messy, explore, experiment, examine. Please wear ‘old’ clothes!

& Duck, Duck … Duct Tape, Tuesday, July 8, at 3 p.m. Headed your way, watch out! Always a favorite! Always fun! What will you create?!

& Hot! Hot! Hot! Spark! Tuesday, July 15, at 3 p.m. Chilly, frosty, frigid, and freezing. Discover your icy powers … create a breath of coolness and

some winter sparks! You say it is summer?!

& Frozen***, Thursday, July 24, at 4:15 p.m. Continue the chill with Frozen! Visit a kingdom trapped by magic … Brrr… aaa movvvvie

andddd pppppizzza! Bring a friend and enjoy! *** Registration required.

& Mixed Media Mania, Tuesday, July 29, at 3 p.m. Feeling creative? Like trying out new approaches? Get ready for a grand experiment in the arts!

Please don’t forget the 6th Annual Root Beer Float Day on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 3 p.m., R & R Games on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 3 p.m., and the 9th Annual Celebrate School on Tuesday, Aug. 26, between 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. (You all know this is one of my favorite celebrations! Come visit! Bring friends, new classmates …) Put the Middletown Branch Library ‘a must stop’ on your vacation list! Have a wonderful and safe summer! Teens, Grades 6 – 12 ... refreshments may be served at each program ... ***Registration Required! Please call or stop by the Middletown Branch Library. The Middletown Branch Library is located at 101 Prospect Street, phone number 301.371.7560. www.fcpl.org. Please note the library’s hours: Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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FFACHAPTER WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE Visit: http://mhsknightsffa.org/ for all of the current FFA information! Sign up for the listserv as well. Request to join the Middletown FFA Facebook page. Follow us on Instagram!

AG DAY AND BANQUET Ag Day and the MHS FFA Banquet were recently held. Thank you to Middletown Primary and Wolfsville Elementary schools for a fun-filled day of agriculture activities. During the banquet we said farewell to our retiring officers and welcomes the new officer crew for the 2014-2015 school year.

OFFICERS OF THE 2014-2015 YEAR:Josh Moore PresidentJody Eccard Vice PresidentSara Wenner SentinelAubrey Wishner ReporterSavanah Welch TreasurerAlexandra Yurwic HistorianEllie Grossnickle Secratary

SPEAKING RESULTSCreed:1st –Aubrey Wishner2nd –Jody Eccard3rd-Blair Kreh

Extemporaneous:Senior: 2nd-Emma BrenegenJunior: 1st-Alyssa Klink2nd-Josh Moore3rd- Adriene Lowery

The finalists of the speaking results will be moving on to the state convention and will be presenting their speaking contest. State Convention: State Convention will be held on June 24-26, 2014.

mhsroundtable.com

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You will change. My god, you will change. In four short years of friendship, drama, relationships, and due dates, you wouldn’t believe how much you will change. Don’t fight it; that’s called growing up. Don’t push it either; that’s called growing up too fast. You’ll grow from a small, shy freshman who cowers in the face of the varsity football boys and stands patiently waiting for the couple making out in front of your locker because you are too afraid to ask them to move their fumbling, gross selves elsewhere. My advice is to not worry about these things. You will earn a voice and you will find your way. They will come as naturally as the tide changes with the moon. Don’t worry about the B- you got on your first project or the fear that no one will ever notice you. They will. Do what you want to do, take the classes you want to take. Make as many memories as you possibly can. The names may fade, the faces may also. But the warmth that spreads from your chest to your fingers at the thought of all those precious days and nights with all those spectacular people will never diminish.

News from mhsroundtable.comA LETTER TO INCOMING FRESHMEN FROM A GRADUATING SENIOR

By Jessica Molander, Round Table Editor

I can practically hear each and every one of you as you roll your eyes and sigh. You have all been told to slow down and stop worrying. That doesn’t mean you can or, frankly, that you want to. You can think of me as just another figure spewing cliché ideals about life. You have the choice to roll your eyes at my wisdom. You have the ability to ignore everything I am about to say. You can blow it off or wonder, frustratingly, why you, poor you, have to sit through yet another person telling you what to do or how to live your life. If you choose to do that, then this letter isn’t for you. Or you can listen and listen good. Go into your high school years thinking “this will be totally awesome” and it will be. Leaving the warm, safe, incredibly sheltered life of middle school for the frightening unknowns of high school is enough to make anyone cringe. You hold on to the familiar. You sit at lunch with your friends. Walk in the halls with your friends. Only speak to your friends. Break out of this mundane safety zone. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but if you are surrounded by people just as paralyzed by the

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thought of trying to make new friends as you are, how is anyone going to get to know anyone? Start a conversation about something you are passionate about. People are drawn to passion. They will see your eyes light up and your smile grow wider and they will want to get to know you. And if they don’t, then forget them because you don’t need them. As someone who took journalism for three of my four years here, I suggest joining a club, or a sport, or some sort of extracurricular activity. You’ll grow to love everything about the activity and the people who have joined you in the journey. And the people will love you back. They will push you so far out of your comfort zone you will be petrified. This is good, this is natural. Amazingly enough, you will thank them someday. The journalism class is in charge of the morning announcements. I was more than content sitting in the corner with the teleprompter or behind one of the cameras. I liked those jobs –at least I couldn’t mess them up. But those jobs didn’t push me. Until the day when my teacher asked me if I was willing to be talent (that’s the person who speaks into the camera) the next morning. I remember letting out a surprised squeak, and I could feel the blush spreading over my cheeks at the mere thought of speaking in front of the entire school. In the end, I accepted his request. I couldn’t say no to a teacher, after all. That night was horrific. I didn’t have a thing to wear. I was going to mess everything up. Shannon, the Broadcast Editor-in-Chief, would hate me. I should have said no. First period the next day wasn’t much better. I couldn’t stop shaking, and I didn’t hear a thing the teacher was saying. I got to the broadcast room extra early and sat in panic and dismay. My thoughts crowded and suffocated me. The bell rang and the director began the countdown. “And we’re live in 5…4…3…2…1…” Cue. I read my lines off of the teleprompter, and to say I was relieved when it was over would be an understatement. But I did it! I couldn’t believe I had actually done it. I spoke in front of the whole school, and I didn’t make a complete fool of myself or, more importantly, my crew. The principal did his usual sign-off, and the room immediately came to life. I was showered with “Good job” and “See, it wasn’t that bad.” I pushed myself out of my shell, and I loved it. I learned to stand in front of the camera instead of behind it, and I loved it. Now, three years later, I leave journalism class as the Broadcast Editor-in-Chief. It was totally awesome. I fell in love with a class I never even planned on taking. I took a chance, and after winning four first prizes for my sports pictures, I must say it paid off. I suggest you do the same; take a class you never saw yourself in. Take classes that actually interest you. Trust me, your transcript can stand to have an elective or two. Instead of taking AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Psychology, and AP Language and Composition all in one semester, take an entertaining class. Try taking Philosophy with Mr. Donald or Child Development with Ms. Martin. You could discover things you never thought you

would care about or maybe even change your career goal entirely. Take Economics and Geography with Mr. Kirkendall. Learn about the world – your world. You will see people differently; you will see your country and your president differently. Modern World History with Mr. Haardt made me realize I wanted to become a high school history teacher. Granted, that class was not an elective, but you should give those classes a chance as well. Listen to what your teacher has to say, listen to what your peers have to say. Learn to love learning, and it can be totally awesome. Now for the really cliché part – don’t grow up too fast. Don’t get me wrong; I am ecstatic to graduate and there have been many days when I couldn’t stand the thought of getting up for yet another dreadful Monday morning just to drag myself to school to take two tests and a timed writing. Not every day is going to be laughter and sunshine. But the bad days will teach you just as much as the good days. Thank the miserable days, as much as you thank the joyful ones. You spend 35 hours a week at school. Be a part of it. The only way to lose is to withhold. Go to as many sporting events as you can. Spend your Friday nights at the football games, screaming with the crowd. Go to the café with your best friends just to chat. Go to Homecoming and Prom and dance your heart out. Make as many memories as you can before life becomes too busy to enjoy much of anything. Live for the hours that disguise themselves as minutes. Promise me that you will not wish away your days waiting for graduation. Enjoy them. Because these marvelous moments are happening with or without your involvement. Make it totally awesome. It really hits you when you receive that letter in the mail. Your future depends entirely on that expertly trifolded paper. That is a lot of pressure for a flimsy piece of paper. Of course, it is exciting receiving that letter. But it is also alarming. Not because it tells you your next step in the future, but it means the future is really happening. You have to live on your own. You have to feed yourself. You have to do your own laundry. That’s scary. You’ll miss home more than you can possibly imagine, even those of you who are so sure you are ready to leave. You’ll miss your mother’s home cooked meals. You’ll even miss cramming in a project the day before it is due, though your ability to procrastinate won’t end as you receive your diploma, I’m sure. You’ll miss the friends you aren’t even friends with anymore. And as shocking as it may seem, you will even miss those hideous lockers. You get a strange feeling when you are about to leave a place. As if you will not only miss the people you love, but the person you are at this place and time. As a wise honey-loving bear once said, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Go into high school with the knowledge that you will, in fact, make it out alive. Heed the words of an out-going senior. The four years of high school have been… totally awesome.

Frederick County Board of EducationMiddletown High School33 Thomas Johnson DriveFrederick, MD 21702

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