Alden-Hebron School District 19

*** Thursday 2/27 MS Girls Basketball at Prairie Crossing 6:30 vs. Park in the 8th Grade Lakes Tournament. Bus leaves at 5:15. Tomorrow night 7th Grade Girls play at Grass Lake vs. North Prairie in the 7th Grade Lakes Tournament at 5:45. ***

🎶 Join Us for the District Band! 🎶 ✨ Get ready for an evening of music from around the world! ✨ 📅 Date: March 14 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM 📍 Location: Alden-Hebron HS Gymnasium

Scholarship/Grant Opportunities Available! For detailed information, deadlines and applications on each of these programs, visit compeer.com/giving-back Compeer Financial is invested in uplifting rural communities. Check out our current grant opportunities through our Fund for Rural America! Last Chance: High School Senior Scholarship Graduating high school seniors with an agricultural or rural background or pursuing degrees in agriculture or related fields can apply for a $1,500 scholarship. Recipients are chosen through a competitive selection process. Deadline: March 15, 2025 County Fair Facility Upgrade Grant Enhance your local county fairground facilities with a grant up to $4,000 for facility upgrades or livestock building repairs to elevate the annual fair experience. Deadline: March 31, 2025 The Future of Rural Healthcare Andrew Schaffnit Headshot For Andrea Schaffnit, agriculture is more than farming. It’s about making connections and being part of a close-knit community. Using funds secured from our scholarship towards her studies in Health Care Administration at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Andrea is on a path to doing just that. Submit your scholarship application by March 15, 2025 Mower County Fair Recieves a Giant Check from Compeer Financial Team Members A Growing Need for Accessibility The Crane Pavilion Livestock Arena is a vital facility for the Mower County Fair in Austin, Minnesota, serving as a multifunctional space for livestock exhibitions, educational programs and community gatherings. When the lack of handrails in the arena led to safety and accessibility concerns, fair organizers applied for our grant to have them installed. “This investment reflects our commitment to serving the needs of our community and ensuring the fairgrounds remain a vibrant hub for agricultural education, entertainment and community engagement now and in the future.” Grant application runs March 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025. 2025 Grants and Scholarships February: Farmers Market: Organization and Vendor Grants March: County Fair Facility Upgrade Grant, High School Senior Scholarship Program Due March 15 April: Agriculture Education and Classroom Equipment Grant May: General Use Grant August: Emergency Response Equipment and Regional Collaboration Grants November: General Use Grant Ongoing Grants Beginning with Compeer Financial Grant Community Building Grant Rural Feasibility Study Grant Transition Planning Grant

*** Tuesday 2/25 MS Girls Basketball home vs. St. Mary's 5th/6th 5:00 & 7th/8th at 6:00. ***

Tomorrow Feb 26 th MS/HS FREE Community Dinner 5:30 - 6:30 Greenhouse Ribbon Cutting 6:30 Giants Showcase 6:30 - 7:30 We hope to see everyone there. Bring your neighbor!

ATTENTION ALL AHHS STUDENTS (16+)/PARENTS: Richmond Rotary is working with MCC to offer a scholarship for students interested in workforce training programs at MCC. These are non-degree training programs, and they are offering up to $1000. Below is the link to the scholarship and applicable programs. If you know of any students interested, they have to apply directly through MCC. The info is in the link. Note, they MUST live in the Richmond/Spring Grove or Alden/Hebron and it is available to anyone over 16 (adults too) https://www.mchenry.edu/careerscholarships/

Track Season is right around the corner! See the flyer below for Middle School Track (5th - 8th grade). Any questions - reach out to Mrs. Ford or Mrs. K!

REMINDER----LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP is due Tuesday, April 1st, by 1159 pm The McHenry Garden Club's significant mission is to provide scholarships for high school graduating seniors and/or continuing education students to pursue their higher education. We have at least 3,000 dollars in scholarships to award. Primary consideration will be given to applicants pursuing study in one of the following areas of study: Landscape Design Agronomy Conservation Horticulture Botany Land Management Agriculture Forestry Environmental Studies Ecology Floriculture Nursery Management The scholarship funds must be applied to tuition, fees and course materials for the semester awarded. Funds will be dispersed to the college or university upon completion of the semester, and registration for the next semester. To be considered, applicants must reside in McHenry County and have graduated or enrolled in their final year of high school. A complete scholarship application will include the following items: 1. A completed scholarship application. Application must be typed, not handwritten (fillable PDF or word document) 2. A copy of an acceptance letter from the selected school of choice 3. A copy of your non-official transcript reflecting at least a GPA of 3.0 4. Two (2) letters of recommendations from a teacher, counselor or school administrator which should document the following: (NA for adult continuing education students) a. In what capacity (or timeframe) the author has known the applicant b. Provide information or examples of how the applicant has demonstrated their interest in the designated field of study. Please submit the above items to Judwalter@comcast.net 2025 Deadline for consideration: Tuesday, April 1st, by 1159 pm. LINK TO APPLICATION: https://mchenrygardenclub.com/civic-activities/scholarships/

*** Monday 2/24 HS Boys Basketball at Dakota IHSA Regional game 7:00 start. MS Girls Basketball at Emmons 6th, 7th & 8th. 4:15 start. Remember tomorrow night we added a MS Girls game with St. Mary's 5th/6th & 7th/8th here at AH 5:00 start. ***

🌊 Dive into a Magical Adventure! 🐚 District 19 and Deep Roots Stage invite you to journey Under the Sea with The Little Mermaid! 🧜‍♀️ Join Ariel, Sebastian, and friends for a fin-tastic performance filled with music, magic, and adventure! 🐠 March 21 & 22 @ 6 PM 🐠 March 23 @ 2 PM 🎟 Tickets: Just $10! On sale to the public starting February 27th! Get yours at the school office or Stateline Insurance. Don’t be a poor unfortunate soul—snag your tickets before they swim away!

*** Saturday 2/22 IESA MS Wrestling Regional hosted by Alden-Hebron Doors open to the public at 7:30 a.m. $10.00 admission for everyone. No Senior or Student discounts. Wrestling begins at 9:00. Come out for a Great Day of Wrestling .***

It's not too late for students to apply for scholarships! Please help us spread the word about these opportunities. I've recently updated some of the scholarship listings on the IL Ag Education Scholarships page, including: Chicagoland Food Science Foundation: due March 7. CHS Foundation, due April 1 Illinois Agri-Women (due March 31) and American Agri-Women

Attention Seniors Interested in Attending MCC This Fall! Mark your calendars! Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025 Time: 7th Hour Event: McHenry County College Fall '25 - Next Steps/Fall Enrollment Presentation Join us for this important presentation where we’ll guide you through the key steps to prepare for MCC this fall. Topics will include: Course placement Scholarship applications New Student Orientation Course registration FAFSA next steps We’ll also show students how to access their MCC email and student account, as well as answer any questions they may have. Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure a smooth transition to MCC in August! Questions? Contact academic advisor, Ms. VanderPal

*** Wednesday 2/19 MS Girls Basketball at Grass Lake 4:30 6th & 8th grade games. HS Boys Basketball home vs. Marian Central FS 5:30. ***

*** Tuesday 2/18 MS Girls Basketball home vs. Stanton 7th & 8th 4:30. HS Girls play in their second round Regional game at Hiawatha vs. Pecatonica 6:00. Good Luck Lady Giants!! Congratulations to Rileigh Gaddini on joining the 1000 point club here at AH on Saturday night! Also Congratulations to Logan Crowell at The Wrestling Sectional. He did a great job and just missed qualifying for the State Tournament. ***

Check your mail! Invitations are going out from MCC! MCC is sending out invitations to all students enrolled in dual credit courses who qualify to join Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), which is the international honor society for two-year colleges. As part of PTK, you’ll receive:  Transfer scholarship opportunities  Leadership and personal development  Recognition in the college and community  Resume enhancement and transcript designation No minimum level of participation is required. There is a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $80. Scholarships are available if the fee is a barrier. For more information, contact the faculty advisors: Heidi Boring (hboring@mchenry.edu) and Christine Grela (cgrela@mchenry.edu). To join, go to www.ptk.org, click “Join,” enter your MCC email address, and pay your one-time membership fee online. Want to get involved? Attend a service event. Events are open to both PTK members and non-members. Bring your friends! Adopt-a-Highway: Meet at MCC in room A230a. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toed shoes. Training and pick-up materials will be provided. Friday, March 21 at 10:30 am

The United States Military Academy at West Point is excited to offer two unique opportunities for high school and middle school students to experience the Academy this summer. Opportunity 1: Summer Leader Experience (SLE) This one-week program is designed for current high school juniors, offering them a unique opportunity to experience life as a Cadet at West Point. The action-packed week will be both challenging and rewarding, with participants taking part in: Four hands-on academic workshops selected from 17 different options, taught by West Point faculty. Physical and mental challenges, including indoor and outdoor obstacle courses, intramurals, and the Candidate Fitness Assessment. Leadership and character development through team challenges, the Leader Reaction Course, and ethics discussions led by West Point Cadets. Check out the SLE 2024 VIDEO to learn more about the experience. https://shorturl.at/3xIyt Students can choose between two SLE sessions: May 31 – June 6 June 7 – June 13 Applications for SLE open on February 15, and selections will be made on a rolling basis starting March 15. Completing this application also fulfills the first portion of the application to West Point. West Point provides scholarships to cover the costs of SLE fees and travel expenses for students who have proven financial need. Learn more here: West Point Summer Leader Experience https://shorturl.at/gWRog Apply to SLE: https://apply.westpoint.edu/portal/candidate Opportunity 2: For students in 6th through 9th grade, West Point will host its annual Summer STEM Workshops. During these workshops, students will explore the Academy grounds, experience cadet life, and participate in a variety of hands-on STEM activities. Workshop topics include human physiology, fuel cell cars, propellants, robotics, cantilevers, soldering circuits, fish biodiversity, water chemistry, meteorology, egg drop engineering, data analytics, and more. The workshops are scheduled as follows: June 2–6 for 6th-7th graders June 9–13 for 8th-9th graders Applications for Summer STEM are open now through February 28, 2025. For more information, visit the Center for Leader Development in STEM (CLDSTEM) website: https://shorturl.at/lxZYW Apply to Summer STEM: Summer STEM Workshop Application - https://shorturl.at/uqQcN

February College Prep Checklist for AHHS Seniors: In February, high school seniors should prioritize finalizing college decisions by visiting potential schools, checking on financial aid status, submitting scholarship applications, staying on top of academic work, and planning for the transition to college life, including housing and orientation information. Key tasks for February: College Visits: -Schedule and complete any remaining college visits to get a feel for the campus and environment. -Meet with admissions counselors during your visits to discuss your academic profile and potential fit. Financial Aid /FAFSA: -Review financial aid packages from accepted colleges. -Submit any necessary additional financial aid forms or documentation. -Compare financial aid offers and make informed decisions. -Make sure that you have submitted a copy of your FAFSA confirmation letter to the AHHS Office for the FAFSA graduation requirement Scholarship Applications: -Actively search for scholarships that align with your academic interests and achievements. -Be sure you are checking your school email for local scholarships shared by the academic advisor -Complete and submit scholarship applications with deadlines approaching. Proofread essays carefully before submitting. Admissions Decisions: -Respond to acceptance letters from colleges by the deadline. -Notify colleges of your final decision if required. College Transition Planning: -Research housing options and application process for your chosen college. -Look into orientation schedules and important dates for incoming freshmen. -Start planning for necessary supplies and textbooks. Academic Focus: -Maintain strong grades in your senior year classes. -Check with your advisor about any remaining graduation requirements. -Stay organized and prioritize upcoming exams. Other Considerations: -Communicate with your college counselor about any questions or concerns. -Consider attending college fairs or information sessions. -Start planning for graduation activities (filling out the AHHS Post-secondary exit survey).

*** Wednesday 2/12 Both MSGB and HSGB have been cancelled for tonight. All after school practices have also been cancelled for today. HS Girls Basketball will travel to Hiawatha tomorrow night to makeup todays game same time 5:30 start. ***

Digital ACT/PreACT Practice Test Day – February 13th Dear Students and Families, On February 13th, AHHS will administer a full-length digital ACT or PreACT practice test to all 9th–11th grade students as part of Illinois’ transition from the SAT to the ACT. This practice test is essential in helping students: ✔️ Get familiar with the test format and structure ✔️ Experience the types of questions they will encounter ✔️ Practice using the online tools provided Important Reminders for 9th–11th Grade Students: 🔹 Bring a fully charged Chromebook and charger 🔹 Phones and smartwatches are not allowed during testing and must be securely stored in lockers Seniors: 🔹 Seniors are given the day to explore post-secondary options, such as job shadowing, internships, college/trade school visits, and more 🔹There will be no AHHS or LCTC classes on this day LCTC Students: 🔹 You will be granted a calendar conflict day to either participate in the practice test or explore post-secondary opportunities 📢 Please note: There will be an early dismissal at 1:00 PM on February 13th. Thank you for cooperating to ensure a smooth and successful practice testing day!