Monday, December 22, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the winter break, I want to express my sincere gratitude for our incredible school community. This semester has been marked by hard work, growth, and numerous shared successes, and I am incredibly proud of the dedication our students have demonstrated.

I hope this upcoming break provides you and your family with a well-deserved opportunity to rest, reconnect, and recharge. Whether you are traveling or enjoying a quiet time at home, I wish you a season filled with peace and joy.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year on January 5th, refreshed and ready for a strong end to our first semester. 

Best regards,

Dan Gebauer - Principal

gebadan@sdmfschools.org 

Dec 22 - Jan 2: Winter Break * NO SCHOOL

Jan 5: School Resumes

Jan 7: SPIN Night (6 pm), Burgundy Gym

Jan 13: MFHS Jazz Concert (7 - 9 pm), Auditorium

Jan 19: Martin Luther King Jr Day *NO SCHOOL

Jan 21-23: Semester 1 Exams *SCHEDULE BELOW

Jan 26: Teacher In-Service *NO SCHOOL

Jan 27: Semester 2 Begins

Jan 27: Student Culture (Phoenix Time), Homeroom

AP Exam Information

As AP Season approaches in May, below are some important reminders to discuss and review. Most importantly, caregivers, if you would like your child to have the opportunity to earn college credit from their AP course, they need to register for the corresponding exam. A great majority of interested students have already done this before the priority registration back on/before November 10. However, please know that students can still register - late - until Wednesday, March 11, 2026. This is the “late registration window,” so please be advised there is an additional $40 College Board fee per exam. See below for more details. 

2025/2026 Advanced Placement Exam Schedule – Including tentative MFHS locations. This information is subject to change as we solidify arrangements.

March 11, 2026 – MFHS Final AP Exam Order deadline. 

• All AP Students should review their Exam Status in AP Classroom.  
• NO CHANGES can be made after the Final Order Deadline. To be clear, “Yes” means students have ordered an exam. “No” means they have NOT ordered an exam. “Undecided” also means they have NOT ordered an exam.   
• Financial Struggles: If any student is hesitating on registering for an AP Exam due to financial burdens on themselves/family, please have them contact Mr. Taylor or Ms. Winn directly. They can also confidentially connect with their teacher, administrator, or any other member of Student Services.  
• General Procedures for Changing Status: 
• Late Order Request: if a student originally marked “no” or “undecided” and now wishes to purchase an exam, they need to fill out an Advanced Placement Late Order Request form by March 11. Paper copies (pink) are available in the Student Services office. This must be turned in to Mrs. Strupp in the SS Office. The College Board will add a $40 fee per exam. 
• Cancellations: if a student originally marked “yes” and now wishes to cancel an exam, they may still do so for a partial refund. Students should fill out an Advanced Placement Exam Cancellation Form. Paper copies (gray) are available in Student Services. This must be turned in to Mrs. Strupp in the SS Office. The College Board will retain a $40 fee per exam. 
• Alternative / Late Testing: If a student has a specific, unavoidable conflict (ext. athletic contest, a serious emergency, a school closing, etc.) and is unable to test on their scheduled exam day, please have them contact Mr. Taylor or Ms. Winn directly. Note: College Board may add a $40 fee per exam.
• Any additional fees will be assessed in PowerSchool.

If you have any questions, please reach out. 

Kindly,

Mike Taylor – Advanced Placement Coordinator

TaylMic@sdmfschools.org

Natalie Winn – Advanced Placement Co-Coordinator

winnnat@sdmfschools.org

Oratorical and Essay Contest

The Menomonee Falls Optimist Club is thrilled to invite all MFHS students to participate in their annual Oratorical and Essay

Contests! This is a unique opportunity to boost your résumé and college applications, grow your confidence, and compete for scholarships up to $2,500 at the local and district levels. The 2026 Essay Contest challenges you to write a 700–800-word essay on the theme: “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me.” The due date for all essay submissions is Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

Orat

The 2026 Oratorical Contest provides a valuable platform to practice your public speaking skills with a prepared 4–5 minute speech centered on the theme: “The Moment I Realized I Belonged — My Definition of Community.” The live contest date is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026. By participating in either or both contests, you gain valuable recognition and the chance to discover your voice while engaging with topics relevant to your life and community.

To submit your finished entry, please contact Annie Jurczyk at Annie.j@kw.com or Mike Russell at michaeldrussell1988@gmail.com.

Senior Club Fundraiser

The senior class has many special events planned throughout the spring to celebrate their upcoming graduation. Help make the Class of 2026's final semester at MFHS the most memorable of all. The following is a list of special senior events that need your support!

• Senior Week
• Senior Holiday
• Senior Gift
• Graduation Fireworks

MFHS 2025 - 2026 ACT Prep Schedule

Interested in attending an ACT Prep Class? Please click the button below for a schedule with dates to attend!

MFHS Optimist Students of the Month

Congratulations to Jayson Coleman and Cole Bugiel for being recognized as December's Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls Students of the Month! Jayson was nominated by Mrs. Burling and Mrs. Sturm for his excellence in his accounting and information technology classes, as well as his leadership in FBLA as a school store manager. Cole was nominated by Mrs. Burling and Mrs. Sturm for his outstanding performance as manager of Falls Fan Gear, leadership in his Business Academy Capstone course, and his overall high performance in his business classes. Way to go!

SANTA!!



Students at MFHS kicked off this morning with a bit of holiday cheer when Santa stopped by for a visit!

Sankt Martinstag



Students in German classes explored German culture by making lanterns to celebrate the holiday Sankt Martinstag, or St. Martin's Day, which is celebrated on November 11th. While there are many different versions of this folktale, in one of them, children make lanterns with candles with the goal of warding off the evil spirits of the forthcoming harsh winter. In another, more well-known version, children make lanterns and celebrate St. Martin, who was an advocate for children and the less fortunate. St. Martin went as far as cutting his cloak in half to share with a freezing man in need to comfort him!

Happy Martinstag!

Digital Illustration Published!



Students in Ms. Chmielewski's Digital Illustration 1 course created winter-inspired illustrations using Adobe Illustrator, a tablet, and a stylus.

Shout out to our cover artist, A. Zimmerman!

...And congratulations to every student involved in the process.

Their illustrations were selected by the staff at @hometownpublications.

Thank you to Express News / Hometown Publications for partnering with our art and design department and believing in our students' talent.

Marketing Principle Class Challenge

Students in Mrs. Sturm's Marketing Principles class put their distribution skills to the test! Together in teams, students worked to move a fragile product (a hard-boiled egg!) through an obstacle course to simulate distributing a product in the real world. Students needed to consider efficiency, cost, and the type of physical distribution used in order to successfully complete the challenge!

German Club visits Christkindl Market

German Club students, about 80 in total, braved the cold on December 4th to visit the Christkindlmarket in Chicago! This market is inspired by the 16th century Christkindlmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany - one of the first outdoor markets of its kind! While visiting, students were able to explore vendor products from around the world, as well as traditional German foods including roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, and bratwurst!

Construction & Building Class Work



Mr. Hoyem's Construction & Building Technology class has been hard at work building handcrafted tables!

December Blood Drive Success!

Thank you to all who came out in the bitter cold to warm the hearts of many. The Healthcare Academy, in partnership with American Red Cross of Wisconsin, collected 102 units of blood at our recent drive - that's up to 306 lives that will be saved this holiday season! Extra special shout-out to the HCA Seniors who went all out this year, creating a welcoming and festive environment for all who donated.

Outdoor Adventure Cooking Outside

Hands-on learning at its best! Our Outdoor Adventure students built their own burners and spatulas, then put their skills to the test by cooking burgers.

Sport Franchise Marketing Project

In Mr. Meyer’s Business Ventures class, students demonstrated professional dress for their Sport Franchise Marketing Project. Students created a new sports franchise and researched the culture of each city when creating the brand. Students also created jerseys and provided advice for how they would market their newly created team to the public!