New Announcements:

Mr. Rankin: Senior varsity football players are to report to the student services office at this time.

The ITS Group will meet today after school for a very brief meeting in 6105. Please make the effort to attend as we will discuss organization activities. The meeting will end by 3:00.

All members of the Speech & Debate Team are reminded that we will be hosting an N.C.F.L. Tournament today after school here at MIHS. All members of the team are expected to compete and we are to meet at 2:45pm in Mr. Caugherty’s room for an important team meeting and practice. If you have any questions or conflicts at all see Coach Caugherty immediately.

Repeat Announcements:

Senior T-shirt orders are due this Friday to room 201.

Sports Announcements:

Any student wishing to enter a lottery system in hopes of receiving a ticket to the McDowell/Prep home basketball game on January 24th must sign-up in lunch this week. The athletic department will have a table set-up in the cafeteria for this purpose. This will take place on Wednesday (1/7/09) for all lunches at MIHS and on Friday (1/10/09) for McDowell. This will be the only opportunity for a student to participate in the chance of receiving a game ticket. During your lunch please make sure to stop by the designated table and complete a ticket request form.

New Announcements:

Any Junior or Senior students interested in JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society) should attend a meeting in Room 200 today during activating period.

Mr. Rankin:  The following is an important announcement concerning detention: Considering the fact that we had a long holiday break, we believe that a number of students forgot that they were to serve office detention yesterday. Based on that consideration, if you serve the detention you owed yesterday, today after school, there will not be an additional consequence. If you are not sure if you owe a detention you need to check with Mrs. Bucarelli in room 228 (or room 107 1st, 2nd, and 4th blocks). If you were scheduled for detention tonight or yesterday and do not serve tonight, you will be issued a Saturday detention in addition to still having to serve the office detention.

Repeat Announcements:

Senior T-shirt orders are due this Friday to room 201.

Sports Announcements:

The Lady Trojans traveled to Corry last night and jumped out early and never trailed as they got the win. Leading the scoring were: Allison Braun, Jenna Krause, Lindsey Oberacker, Leah Krause and Maddie Hahesy.
The girls next game is at home on Thursday at 7:30 vs General McLane.

Any student wishing to enter a lottery system in hopes of receiving a ticket to the McDowell/Prep home basketball game on January 24th must sign-up in lunch this week. The athletic department will have a table set-up in the cafeteria for this purpose. This will take place on Wednesday (1/7/09) for all lunches at MIHS and on Friday (1/10/09) for McDowell. This will be the only opportunity for a student to participate in the chance of receiving a game ticket. During your lunch please make sure to stop by the designated table and complete a ticket request form.

The McDowell Trojan Boys Basketball team travels to Mercyhurst Prep tonight. The JV team plays at 6:00 and the Varsity at 7:30. Come out and support the Trojans!!

New Announcements:

Senior T-shirt orders are due this Friday to room 201.

Mr. Rankin - please announce that Mr. Tony Quint from Josten’s is here this morning to address the senior students on morning announcements. At the end of announcements this morning, each homeroom will be asked to send a homeroom representative to the office to give us the seniors only count in their homeroom to pick up the Josten’s packets.

Sports Announcements:

Over the holiday break, the Trojan Boys Basketball Team advanced to the finals of the FNB Holiday Tournament and lost a hard fought game to Ohio power St. Edwards 48-47. The Trojans bounced back on Saturday as they defeated Franklin 64-51 and are now 8 and 2 on the season. McDowell will travel to Mercyhurst Prep tomorrow.

The Lady Trojans headed down south for the Bulldog Bash in Chantilly Virginia. The Trojans beat Bullis Acadamy from Maryland in the first round. The Trojans defeated James Madison in the second game, down one with 6 seconds, Jenna Krause makes a lay up to put McDowell up one. A steal and two free throws by Allison Braun gave McDowell the tree point victory and a place in the finals. The Trojans were down 5 going into the fourth quarter but used an 18 to 2 fourth quarter to secure the win and the Tournament championship over host school Westfield. Named to the All Tournament Team were: Leah Krause, Lindsey Oberaker, Jenna Krause, and Allison Braun. Allison Braun was given the Erin Peterson MVP award named after a Westfield high alumni and former basketball player who was one of the students killed at Virginia Tech on April 16th, 2007. The girls will travel to Corry today after school for their next contest.

All 11th and 12th grade students who participated in the 2008-09 PTA Reflections Award Contest are invited to an awards breakfast on Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the library.  Please listen for further morning announcements as the breakfast date gets closer.

Literature
Amy Wang
Kristie Bauman
Alex Guthrie
Lindsey Lewicki
Alexandria Hammer
Emily Loker

Honorable Mention-Literature
James Bello
Alyssa Wowk-Kennedy
Rachael Hissom
Jenna Monocello
Jessica Wesmiller
Andy Peterson
Moniek Van Rheenen
Kevin Kerr
Amber Rehberg

Visual Arts
Samuel Droney
Marina Stinely
Ryan McAndrew
Austin Howard
Jessica Szymczuk

Honorable Mention-Visual Arts
Samantha Vanchieri
Garrett Raszmann
Caleb Brooder
Haymee Hurtado
Amy Wang

Musical Composition
Alyssa Strzalka
Chris DeMarco

Photography
Taylor Shippling
Kelsey Heibel
Alexandria Hammer
Brianna Lyle
Alexandra Schwartz

Honorable Mention-Photography
Brianna Lyle
Kelsey Heibel
Elizabeth Nichols
Alana Barricks
Jeffrey Till

Dance Choreography
Sarah Nelson

Film Production
Jennifer Dexter

Visual Arts-Specified
Andrew Heath
Jacob Green
Amanda Henninger
Michael Vicentini
Stephan Swindlehurst

Honorable Mention-VA Specified
Sam Renner
Kory Danowski
Steven Jude
Andy Johnson
Brandon Hakola

New Announcements:

Members of the performing Arts 2-3-4 classes are to report to the Little Theatre at 12:45 this afternoon to perform in the assembly program. The list of student names has been sent to the attendance office.

Any student who ordered Center for Performing Arts shirts or sweats on or before December 5th can pick up their clothing items in 6105 at MIHS. Please see Mr. Malthaner. Also, on behalf of the McDowell Center for Performing Arts, thank you for all of the support you have given us this year and we hope to see you at future performances in the Spring semester. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have Wonderful New Year from all of us in the Performing Arts programs.

Mr. Rankin - if there is time, please announce from the list of the 2008 PTA Reflections Award winners. Our PTSA would like to thank all students who participated this year. There will be an announcement in January for the participants’ breakfast.

Sports Announcements:

The Lady Trojans suffered their first loss of the season last night to Mercyhurst. Leading the scoring were: Lindsey Oberacker, Jenna Krause and Allison Braun. The girls will play next on December 27th in Chantilly Virginia in the Bulldog Bash Tournament

New Announcements:

2 Hr Delayed Start Schedule:
HR 9:35-9:55
1st Block 10:00-10:50
3rd Block 10:55-12:55 LUNCH
2nd Block 1:00-2:10
4th Block 2:15-2:25

The Choral Assembly will run 1st floor and basement 1:05-1:35, return to 2nd block and then 2nd floor will be in the assembly from 1:40-2:10.

Congratulations to the McDowell Speech & Debate Team for finishing tied for first with Mt. Lebanon in the 32 team field at the North Catholic Invitational. Outstanding individual performances were turned in by junior Sarah Harrison, who was an Outstanding Speaker in Student Congress, also senior and defending state champion Lindsay Young, was Outstanding Speaker in Impromptu. Additionally, Senior Brett Wittmerhaus was named Outstanding Performer in Humorous Interp. McDowell’s Duo Interp team of senior Sam Droney and junior Alana Barricks received Outstanding Performance in Duo Interp. Special recognition goes to sophomore Anjali Singh who was recognized as an Outstanding Performer in Prose Reading in a field of over 50 competitors. McDowell next competes at the Laird Lewis Invitational and the National Public Forum Challenge in Charlotte, North Carolina. Senior Public Forum debaters Lindsay Young and Deanna Steffy are one of the sixteen teams from across the country selected to compete in the National Public Forum Challenge.

The library will be closed after school today due to a meeting.

Job shadowing students need to notify their mentor that due to the schedule change today, they will not be attending placement today. Students may use an office phone or Miss Korcinsky’s in room 201. Students should report to room 201 during 4th block today, which is 2:15.

Attention All ASL team members! ASL Testing will be held today after school in room 2-211 with Mr. Andrzejczak from 2:45 - 5:00.

Mr. Rankin - please clarify today’s schedule for VT students…
Study Hall’s for B3 after eating 1st lunch is room 117, B2 is room 219, and B4 is 008

Repeat Announcements:

Judging for the GAC annual Holiday Door Decorating contest will be throughout the day today. An ice cream party will be awarded to the winning homeroom.

New Announcements:

Billy Cvecko and Ronnie Murphy are to report to Miss DeRosa’s room immediately following morning announcements this morning.

Congratulations to the TWENTY-FIVE members of the Speech & Debate Team who placed at the N.C.F.L. League Tournament at Mercer last evening. 3rd Place finishers were Nick Bozich, Brian Murray, Stefan Neamtu, Lydia Kibler, Hetal Patel, and Brett Wittmershaus. 2nd Places were earned by Andrew Hayes, Brian Foster-Pegg, Kayla Moore, Helene Caniac, Esther Park, Marina Stinely, Tori Honard, Anjali Singh, Sam Droney, and Alana Barricks. McDowell had nine students win tournament championships; they were Sarah Harrison, Nasir Sharaf, Marcus Daum, Corey Mihna, James McKeon, Dan Stone, Leo Zausen, Aeryn Smith, and Jimmy Law. McDowell destroyed Cathedral Prep in debate with a perfect 16-0 record in Prep versus McDowell match-ups! Great job!

Repeat Announcements:

Attention McDowell Ski Club, your passes can be picked up at the ski school at the Peak if you wish to ski now.

This is your homeroom’s last opportunity to decorate for the GAC annual holiday door decorating contest. Judging will be throughout the day on Monday, December 22nd. An ice cream party will be awarded to the best decorated door.

Sports Announcements:

The lady Trojans traveled to Fort LeBoeuf last night. The girls came away with the win behind a balanced scoring attack that saw 10 different players score. Leading the scoring were: Allison Braun, Leah Krause, Maddie Hahesy, and Lindsey Oberacker. The girls next game is on Monday at home vs cross town rival Mercyhurst at 7:30.

The McDowell Trojan Boys Basketball team will play Franklin tomorrow at home. The JV team will play at 1:00 with the Varsity to follow at 2:30. In addition, the freshmen will also play Franklin at 11:00. All games will take place in the North Gym. Come out and support the Trojan Hoop team.

New Announcements:

Attention National Honor Society Members:
Twenty members of the NHS have not paid their dues which was due on Monday. The dues are a requirement for membership. These twenty members are now in the list for dismissal consideration. Please pay immediately to Molly Martin or to Mrs. Zeisloft in room 213.
Repeat Announcements:

The McDowell Chorus and Vocal Ensemble will appear on Mornings Live with Raychel and Ray two more times leading up to Christmas. Friday, Dec. 19 and Wednesday, Dec. 24. They will be featured some time between 6:30 and 7:00. McDowell and the other area participating choirs (Harborcreek, East and Collegiate Academy) will then be featured in a special half hour program that will air Christmas Eve at 11pm and Christmas Night at 6pm.

Attention McDowell Ski Club, your passes can be picked up at the ski school at the Peak if you wish to ski now.

This week is your homeroom’s last opportunity to decorate for the GAC annual holiday door decorating contest. Judging will be throughout the day next Monday, December 22nd. An ice cream party will be awarded to the best decorated door.
Sports Announcements:

The McDowell Girl’s Bowling Team will be dismissed at 2:15 today for their match against Strong Vincent.

The McDowell Trojan Boys Basketball Team returns to action tonight as they face the Central Tech Falcons at home. The JV game starts at 6:00 with the Varsity to follow at 7:30. Come out and support your McDowell Trojan Boys Basketball Team!

New Announcements:

Attention: National Honor Society Seniors:
The website for the NHS Scholarship application is still not correct. Please see Mrs. Zeisloft for a correct website. The completed application is due the day you get beck after Christmas break.

Attention: Model UN Delegates:
Your questionnaires were due yesterday. Gannon University Model UN staff is waiting for them. Please return yours to Mrs. Zeisloft today!

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Fall of 2008 National Financial Literacy Challenge was taken by more than 75,000 high school students.  Congratulations to the following students who participated in the challenge, and scored in the top 25^th percentile of the nation’s score:  Jessica Adiutori, Walter Aksent, Scott Barbato, Mitchell Connors, Kristyn Daggett, Amanda Damore, Cody Empey, Brennan Fedorko, Ali Link, Daniel Lipchik, Adriena MacWhirter, Amanda Majersky, Brian Morrow, Cutter Niemic, Sarah Pelton, Travis Phillips, Maggie Reed, Brittney Reese, Kevin Ricart, William Ruhland, Kaila Shaut, Brandon Sing, Kayla Smith, Justin Smith, Gabriella Stefanelli, Jessica Stefan, Christopher Tillman, Landon Williams, and Brik Zivkovich. 
Repeat Announcements:The McDowell Chorus and Vocal Ensemble will appear on Mornings Live with Raychel and Ray two more times leading up to Christmas. Friday, Dec. 19 and Wednesday, Dec. 24. They will be featured some time between 6:30 and 7:00. McDowell and the other area participating choirs (Harborcreek, East and Collegiate Academy) will then be featured in a special half hour program that will air Christmas Eve at 11pm and Christmas Night at 6pm.

Attention McDowell Ski Club, your passes can be picked up at the ski school at the Peak if you wish to ski now.

This week is your homeroom’s last opportunity to decorate for the GAC annual holiday door decorating contest. Judging will be throughout the day next Monday, December 22nd. An ice cream party will be awarded to the best decorated door.
Sports Announcements:

The girl’s basketball welcomed Warren last night. The Trojans jumped out to an early lead and never trailed as they got the win. Leading the scoring were: Lindsey Oberacker, Leah Krause, and Allison Braun. The girls next game is Thursday at Fort Leboeuf.

The McDowell Trojans kept the North Hills Indians off the score board last night. McDowell adds another victory to the stats with a 5- 0 win. Alex Margraf had 2 goals, Jared Gillespie, Sean Perhacs and Gus Martin each with one. Drew Ericson was in net for the shut out. Mark your calendars for a FREE game this Thursday night 8:30 pm Mercyhurst

The McDowell Trojan Boys Basketball Team won their 5th game in a row with a 77-26 victory over Ft. LeBoeuf last night. Mike Conner tallied 16 points, Dejon Young and Mike Molnar scored 12 while Jason Keim chipped in with 11. The JV team also won and remains undefeated on the season. McDowell will be back in action tomorrow at home against Central Tech.