Challenge Cup!

October 23, 2025

Plank Challenge for 1 minute!

1 MINUTE PLANK
Attempted	Points Earned
Alison	50
Andrea	50
Anya	50
Bob	50
Brian	50
Jillian	50
Kellie	50
Lucy	50
Sam	50
Sophia	50

TBA

TBA

TBA

In year #3 of our Focus Class Competition, there will be 8 challenges and hopefully 4 Bonus Challenges per semester for a total of 16 Challenges and 8 Bonus Challenges for the year. The Challenge Cup will start on Monday, September 8 and end on Friday, May 30. A few of the Challenges will have a holiday break in them.

The purpose of the Challenge Cup is to improve school culture, create teamwork opportunities, strengthen relationships in Focus classes, create a tradition, increase desired behaviors and to have FUN!

Each week Focus teachers will be sent an email that has the information on the current challenge, the points standings, and any pertinent information that you may need for your class. This information can also be found on this website and on the bulletin board outside of the staff work room.

Expect prizes (district approved snacks/small items), praise and certificates.

Challenge Winners (based on points) earn Marty the Mustang head and will keep it in their Focus classroom until the next challenge winner is determined. Students in the winning Focus will also receive certificates for that challenge and a prize out of the bin.

Challenge Cup Winner (Focus class who has won the most points by May 29th) will receive a certificate, Focus class engraving on a plaque and prize (ex. Lunch ordered) of their choosing.

Focus classes will be given regular updates on the Challenge Cup, results will be displayed on the bulletin board outside of the staff workroom, and on the Challenge Cup webpage.

A multiplier is used to equally weight the Focus Classes. This is determined by using the class with the highest number of students as the base. If the highest class has 18 students then they become the baseline. If a class has less than that number it is divided by 18.

For example: A class with 12 students would be 18 divided by 12 = 1.5. So 12 x 1.5 = 18. 

Note: Points will be rounded to the nearest whole number. The multiplier will be adjusted (depending on the challenge) to account for enrollment.

The Challenge Cup began in the 2023/24 school year in an effort to bring back a Focus Challenge format that encourages community. The first year consisted of seven, 2 week challenges and three Bonus Challenges and ran from Feb. 12 to May 24. Sophia, a new teacher to Community School, and her Focus Class won the first Challenge called “The Legend of XXXX” which had two parts; name our mustang mascot and write a backstory of the mustang. Coincidentally they also won the last challenge “Period Attendance” as well as the overall Challenge Cup with 1,060 points and will always be the inaugural winner of the Challenge Cup! They had their Focus Class added to the Challenge Cup plaque that is housed in the main lobby of the school. 

In year two, The Challenge Cup ran the full school year with 16 - two week Challenges and three Bonus Challenges. Kendall’s senior Focus Class won the overall Challenge Cup with 2,769 points. Who will be next?!

The Legend of Marty

Steve Jobs owned 365 cow farms. One day, Marty, a beautiful mustang, jumped over the cow’s fence to one of his farms and got mixed into the cow's butchering section where his head got brutally chopped off far too early. FATALITY! His body got mixed in with the burgers sent off to be eaten for lunch at Merlo Station High School. 

Steve Jobs was worried, “How do I cover up this mistake so I don’t get fined?!” He asked his wife, Shirley. She told him, “I think you should just tell the truth, Steve.”

WRONG ANSWER. He went mad with fear and chopped her head off, too; he didn’t want anyone to know of the crime he had committed, so he threw her body into the furnace. He thought of a devious plan. “I know what I’ll do! I’ll cover the horse's head in silver and sell it on eBay as a trophy; no one will ever know.” 

He grabbed the head and some tongs and dipped the head into the “big booty burner,” his favorite bin of plating solution. Once it cooled, he took a sick selfie with his creation, put a price of $250 on it, and uploaded it to eBay, where it caught the eye of Jon Sanchez. 

“This is a steal for silver! People will think it’s plastic because of how cheap it is, luckily I am brilliant!” Jon said when he found his new prized possession. He then asked his son, Isaac, if he wanted it for his birthday, and Isaac, who was weirded out, said, “No, but if you really want it, instead of giving it to me, you should turn it into your school mascot and give it as a trophy.” “Brilliant!” Jon replied. 

Marty’s spirit was still alive inside the trophy; when Jon received his package, he learned that the mustang head could talk. At first, he was afraid that the head was possessed and that was why it was so cheap, but Marty was a great motivational speaker, he helped Jon overcome many obstacles to become the principal he is today. Marty quickly became Jon’s best friend and the person he went to when he was lonely. In fact, if you pass by Jon and see him talking to himself, he is really talking to Marty and getting help with his disciplinary decisions. Marty always wants the best for the Merlo student body and he is excited to be a prize to a focus class this year so he can see the action of the classroom. 

And that is the story of how the Merlo Mustangs got their head.

***Created by the wonderful people in Sophia’s Focus class and voted as best legend by other Focus classes! February 2024***

WINNER: B.A.D.D.I.E.S. (Sophia's Focus)

 

Challenge 1 (Sept 8 - Sept 19) - FOCUS BRANDING

1. In this challenge you are continuing to build on the work from the first day of school that started with creating a class symbol.
2. Create a name for your Focus Class that you will be referred to as for the rest of the year. (ex: a short phrase, alliteration, moto, animal, class favorite something…)
3. In a paragraph explain why you picked the name and how it represents your focus? (minimum for 100 points: name selected, the why, and turned in on time)
4. Bonus points and a winner will be awarded for completing additional elements such as (selecting a logo, mascot, color(s), motto/quote, make a song, create/add on to poster/symbol and display outside of Focus classroom, etc. (additional points will be awarded up to 100 points)

Challenge 1: Focus Branding 9/8-9/19
	New Name	TOTAL
Alison	Dragonfly	175
Andrea	The One and Only 24K Gold	126
Anya	Sharks	200
Bob	Whatever Troy Said	93
Brian	Team Sophomores	175
Jillian	Jillian's Jelly Bellies	126
Kellie	228	93
Lucy	Boss Bebes and the Wonder Crew	160
Sam	(TBA)	0
Sophia	B.A.D.D.I.E.S.	250

WINNER: Sharks (Anya's Focus)

Challenge 2 (Sept. 23 - Oct. 3) - PLANNERS

1. Hannah and Erin will do one period check each day for filled-in planners. Must be up to date for that period check. Students will not have advanced notice of which periods have been selected.
2. During a selected period each student who is present in class with a filled-in planner for that day/week earns a point for their Focus class.
3. Points are one to one for having a planner at pre-selected periods. Bonus points to the Focus class that has the highest number of points. Marty the Mustang Head will go to the winner of the challenge.

	Enrollment	Multiplier	9/22 Monday	9/23 Tuesday	9/24 Wednesday	9/25 Thursday	9/26 Friday	Week 1 True Totals	Week 1 Points
			N/A	N/A	4th	4th	2nd
Alison	19	1.11			9	5	3	17	19
Andrea	11	1.91			3	3	2	8	17
Anya	11	1.91			6	4	4	14	27
Bob	21	1			7	6	4	17	17
Brian	17	1.24			4	5	3	12	15
Jillian	19	1.11			4	3	2	9	10
Kellie	12	1.75			4	4	5	13	23
Lucy	10	2.1			3	3	3	9	19
Sam	10	2.1			3	3	3	9	19
Sophia	15	1.4			2	0	2	4	6
	Enrollment	Multiplier	9/29 Monday	9/30 Tuesday	10/01 Wednesday	10/02 Thursday	10/03 Friday	Week 2 True Totals	Week 2 Points
			2nd	3rd	2nd	3rd	1st
Alison	19	1.11	4	6	4	9	3	26	29
Andrea	11	1.91	1	0	3	1	0	5	10
Anya	11	1.91	3	5	6	6	5	25	48
Bob	21	1	5	6	5	6	6	28	28
Brian	17	1.24	3	3	2	3	2	13	16
Jillian	19	1.11	2	3	5	5	3	18	20
Kellie	12	1.75	3	4	3	6	4	20	35
Lucy	10	2.1	1	2	3	1	3	10	21
Sam	10	2.1	2	2	3	2	4	13	27
Sophia	15	1.4	1	0	3	1	2	7	10

Winner: Jillian's Jelly Bellies

Challenge 3 (Oct. 6 - 17) - PERIOD ATTENDANCE

1. Base percentage of Attendance is calculated from the previous 2 weeks. 
2. The Focus class that improves their attendance percentage the most at the end of the time period wins the challenge.
3. Every Focus class that improves their overall attendance percentage will also earn points. 
4. Focus classes will be given updates throughout the challenge about their progress.
5. Points are based on percentage of overall improvement.

	Challenge #3: Period Attendance using Robin's Data 10/6-10/17
		(Baseline)		Period Attendance (baseline)	Challenge #3				Tentative Points Awarded
	Total students	Week 5 (9/23-9/26)	Week 6 (9/29-10/3)		Week 7 (10/6-10/9)	Week 8 (10/13-10/17)	Average over both weeks	% of Improvement
Alison	19	60.31%	62.25%	61.28%	63.80%				150
Andrea	11	70.95%	58.98%	64.97%	47.80%
Anya	11	86.71%	81.16%	83.94%	82.90%
Bob	20	71.83%	65.90%	68.87%	70.03%				125
Brian	17	83.98%	77.25%	80.62%	76.30%
Jillian	19	70.75%	67.53%	69.14%	70.10%				So close!
Kellie	12	61.60%	60.48%	61.04%	59.20%
Lucy	10	63.13%	64.80%	63.97%	62.90%
Sam	10	82.02%	81.90%	81.96%	81.40%
Sophia	15	73.17%	64.47%	68.82%	55.70%

Points are based on improvement by percentage: 200 - 7.5% to above 175 - 5 to 7.4 % 150 - 2.5 to 4.9 % 125 - 1 to 2.4 %

WINNER: Sharks (Anya's Focus)

 

Challenge 4 (Oct. 20 - Oct. 30) - ON TIME

1. Hannah and Erin will do two or more period checks each day. Students will not have advanced notice of which periods have been selected.
2. During a selected period each student who was present on time earns a point for their Focus class. 
3. There will be a plan to equitably visit an equal amount of classes across grades.
4. Points are one to one for being on time at pre-selected periods. Bonus points to the Focus class that has the highest number of points. Marty the Mustang Head will go to the winner of the challenge.

	Students	Multiplier	10/20 Monday		10/21 Tuesday		10/22 Wednesday		10/23 Thursday		10/24 Friday		Week 1 True Totals	Week 1 Points
			2nd	3rd	3rd	4th	4th	5th	1st	4th	2nd	3rd
Alison	19	1.05	8	9	10	15	8	12	4	7	6	8	87	91
Andrea	10	2	5	6	4	3	4	4	1	5	4	2	38	76
Anya	11	1.82	7	9	9	9	9	8	8	9	6	5	79	144
Bob	20	1	13	14	11	10	9	7	4	7	9	10	94	94
Brian	17	1.18	9	11	10	13	14	10	6	10	11	11	105	124
Jillian	19	1.05	7	11	7	12	7	10	5	11	11	11	92	97
Kellie	12	1.67	4	4	9	5	6	8	1	2	9	9	57	95
Lucy	6	3.33	3	5	5	5	2	4	3	1	4	6	38	127
Sam	10	2	5	7	5	6	7	10	4	8	8	6	66	132
Sophia	15	1.33	10	9	11	8	7	11	4	8	6	7	81	108

 

	Students	Multiplier	10/27 Monday		10/28 Tuesday		10/29 Wednesday		10/30 Thursday		10/31 Friday		Week 2 True Totals	Week 2 Points
			2nd	3rd	1st	5th	2nd	5th	1st	2nd	N/A
Alison	19	1.05	8	8	2	4	8	8	4	9			51	54
Andrea	10	2	1	5	2	6	1	0	2	1			17	34
Anya	11	1.82	8	10	7	7	8	9	4	9			62	113
Bob	20	1	9	12	7	11	8	8	9	8			72	72
Brian	17	1.18	12	12	6	8	9	10	5	10			72	85
Jillian	19	1.05	8	11	8	11	11	11	7	13			80	84
Kellie	12	1.67	6	6	3	5	6	5	5	7			43	72
Lucy	6	3.33	3	5	2	1	2	4	3	2			22	73
Sam	10	2	9	9	6	7	8	9	4	8			60	120
Sophia	15	1.33	6	9	3	8	7	9	3	8			53	70

 

	Week 1 Points	Week 2 Points	TOTAL
Alison	92	54	146
Andrea	76	34	110
Anya	144	113	257
Bob	94	72	166
Brian	124	85	209
Jillian	97	84	181
Kellie	95	72	167
Lucy	123	73	196
Sam	132	120	252
Sophia	108	70	178

WINNER: Boss Bebes & the Wonder Crew

Challenge 5 - (Nov. 3 - 14) - PLANNERS (see Challenge 2)

	Enrollment	Multiplier	11/3 Monday	11/4 Tuesday	11/5 Wednesday	11/6 Thursday	11/7 Friday	Week 1 True Totals	Week 1 Points
			3rd	3rd	5th	2nd	2nd
Alison	18	1.11	4	10	7	5	9	35	39
Andrea	12	1.67	2	4	3	4	3	16	27
Anya	11	1.82	5	4	3	4	4	20	36
Bob	19	1.05	3	6	5	6	4	24	25
Brian	17	1.18	5	5	2	3	2	17	20
Jillian	20	1	3	3	4	8	6	24	24
Kellie	12	1.54	9	10	4	7	4	34	52
Lucy	7	2.86	4	4	5	5	3	21	60
Sam	11	1.82	4	4	6	5	5	24	44
Sophia	16	1.25	4	4	3	5	4	20	25

 

	Enrollment	Multiplier	11/10 Monday	11/11 Tuesday	11/12 Wednesday	11/13 Thursday	11/14 Friday	Week 2 True Totals	Week 2 Points
			N/A	N/A	5th	2nd	3rd
Alison	17	1.12			6	6	8	20	22
Andrea	10	1.9			6	4	2	12	23
Anya	11	1.82			4	3	5	12	22
Bob	19	1			5	5	7	17	17
Brian	17	1.12			3	3	3	9	10
Jillian	19	1			6	5	4	15	15
Kellie	13	1.46			6	6	6	18	26
Lucy	7	2.71			3	5	4	12	36
Sam	11	1.73			4	5	6	15	26
Sophia	16	1.19			3	2	3	8	10

Challenge 6 (Nov. 17 - Dec. 5) - FOCUS GOAL

1. Focus classes need to notify Erin/Hannah of their goal by 11/19 AND have it posted outside of their classroom.
2. The goal could be either school related or not. The class will select one goal that the class will work on for the remainder of the challenge (two weeks, could include Fall break).
3. Write the Focus class goal in a SMART like format (Specific, measurable, action steps, realistic and can show improvement in the time frame) 
4. Track goal visibly outside classroom (could have own rubric for completion)
5. Reflection paragraph emailed to Hannah/Erin on or by 12/05.
6. Points will be given for selecting the goal and writing in SMART Format, posting outside of room, visual tracking of the goal, participation, meeting the goal, and reflection on the experience. (250 points max)
7. Consider starting this challenge the week prior to allow for more time. 

Ideas for reflection: How was this process for you? What kinds of goals would you like to set for yourself? Would your class like to set another goal? What can make attaining goals challenging? Why can it be helpful to set a goal?

Challenge 7 (Dec. 8 - 19) - PERIOD ATTENDANCE (see Challenge 3)

 

Challenge 8 (Jan. 6 - 16) - CHROMEBOOKS

1. Hannah and Erin will do two or more period checks each day for Chromebooks. Students will not have advanced notice of which periods have been selected.
2. During a selected period each student who is present with a Chromebook in class earns a point for their Focus class. Library Chromebooks will not count for points.
3. Points are one to one for having a Chromebook at pre-selected periods. Bonus points to the Focus class that has the highest number of points. Marty will go to the winner of the challenge.

Challenge 9 (Feb. 2 - 13) - ON TIME (see Challenge 4)

Challenge 10 (Feb. 17 - 27) - CS RECRUITMENT

1. Create a campaign to recruit new students to Community School. Choose whether your intended audience is incoming Freshmen or older students wanting to make a change.
2. Decide what you will make; social media campaign, podcast, commercial, poster, something else? (the finished product needs to be shareable)
3. Include a minimum of 3 reasons why Community School would be a good fit for the chosen audience.
4. 100 points will be awarded based on meeting above requirements and having it completed and shared with Erin/Hannah by the end of 2/27. 50 extra points if we can share on our website/social media pages.
5. Student council will then vote on the best product and a winner will be determined by 3/4.
6. Consider starting this challenge the week prior to allow for more time. 

Challenge 11 (Mar. 2 - 13) - PLANNERS (see Challenge 2)

Challenge 12 (Mar. 17 - Apr. 4) -  PERIOD ATTENDANCE (see Challenge 3)

Challenge 13 (Apr. 7 - 17) - CHROMEBOOKS (see Challenge 7)

Challenge 14 (Apr. 21 - May 1) - MERLO IMPROVEMENT PLAN

1. Each Focus class will create a Merlo Improvement Plan (MIP) that meets the following criteria: (This should be student driven)
   1. The MIP has to be in one of three categories (school culture/image, school rules/management, or building/facility)
   2. Clearly state what the plan is aiming to improve.
   3. Plan has to include the following:
      1. The need/problem it is addressing 
      2. The pros/cons, challenges that may arise
      3. What the proposal/improvement would require (ex: cost, staffing, supplies needed, etc)
   4. Typed and emailed to Hannah and Erin by the end of the day on 5/1. 
2. Points are based on meeting requirements, bonus points for any proposal student council moves towards consideration. Only one proposal will win but many may be accepted as future student council projects. We are looking for details and specifics.
3. Teamwork and creativity are highly encouraged.
4. Partial points will be awarded if not all requirements are met.

Challenge 15 (May 4 - 15) - ON TIME (see Challenge 4)

 

Challenge 16 (May 18 - 29) - MAY MADNESS

1. A list of tasks will be provided to the Focus Class.
2. The Focus Class will have two weeks to complete as many of the tasks as they want and earn the points associated. 
3. A photo, teacher signature or other proof of each task is necessary.
4. All tasks must be completed during Focus class.
5. The Focus Teacher must sign off on each completed task.
6. Focus classes will earn as many points as they would like to.
7. The Focus that earns the most points will win the challenge and a bonus 50 points.

Community School Challenge Cup 2023/24! (Year #1)

Introducing a new Merlo/Community School tradition starting from the ground up! Let the challenges begin between Focus classes! Students will have the opportunity to compete in seven challenges and earn points over the course of semester 2 (and maybe some small ones thrown in) all leading to an ultimate Focus class winner of the Challenge Cup for the 2023/24 school year. 

Goals: Improve school culture, teamwork opportunities, strengthen relationships in Focus classes, create a tradition, increase desired behaviors and FUN!

Prizes

Expect candy and praise.

Individual Challenge Winners (based on points) earn the Mustang Head and will keep it in their focus classroom until the next challenge winner is determined. Students in the winning focus will also receive certificates for that challenge.

Challenge Cup Winner (Focus class who has won the most points by May 24th) will receive a certificate, Focus class engraving on a plaque and prize of their choosing.

Focus classes will be given regular updates on the Challenge Cup AND results will be displayed on the bulletin board outside of the staff workroom.

Challenge Detailed Breakdown

Challenge 1 - The Legend of XXXX

1. Each focus class will come up with a name and a backstory of the Merlo Mustang.
2. The name must start with an M. 
3. Typed and emailed to Hannah and Erin 
4. Turned in on time (end of day on 2/16)
5. Classes will vote on the name and backstory from 2/21 to 2/23
6. Points are awarded based on requirements being met and the outcomes of voting.

Ideas/prompts/questions to consider

1. How the Mustang head get here? Where is it’s body?
2. Where did the Mustang originate from? 
3. How did the Mustang help the Merlo campus?
4. How did the Mustang get it’s name?

Challenge 2 - Period Attendance

1. Base percentage of Attendance is calculated from the first two weeks of quarter 3. 
2. The Focus class that improves their attendance percentage the most at the end of the time period the most wins the challenge.
3. Every Focus class that improves their overall attendance percentage will also earn points. 
4. Focus classes will be given updates throughout the challenge about their progress.
5. Points are based on percentage of overall improvement.

Challenge 3 - On Time

1. Hannah and Erin will do two or more period checks each day. Students will not have advanced notice of which periods have been selected.
2. During a selected period each student who was present on time earns a point for their Focus class. 
3. There will be a plan to equitably visit an equal amount of classes across grades.
4. Points are one to one for being on time at pre-selected periods. Bonus points to the Focus class that has the highest number of points. The Mustang Head will go to the winner of the challenge.

Challenge 4 - Period Attendance (see Challenge 2)

Challenge 5 - ChromeBook

1. Hannah and Erin will do two or more period checks each day for Chromebooks. Students will not have advanced notice of which periods have been selected.
2. During a selected period each student who is present with a chromebook in class earns a point for their Focus class.
3. Points are one to one for having a chromebook at pre-selected periods. Bonus points to the Focus class that has the highest number of points. The Mustang Head will go to the winner of the challenge.

Challenge 6 - Merlo Improvement Plan

1. Each Focus class will create a Merlo Improvement Plan (MIP) that meets the following criteria:
   1. The MIP has to be in one of three categories (school culture/image, school rules/management, or building/facility)
   2. Clearly state the improvement proposed.
   3. Proposal has to address the following:
      1. The need/problem it is addressing 
      2. The pros/cons, challenges that may arise
      3. What the proposal/improvement would require (ex: cost, staffing, supplies needed, etc)
   4. Typed and emailed to Hannah and Erin. 
   5. Turned in on time (end of day on 5/10).
2. Points are based on meeting requirements, bonus points for any proposal admin chooses to move forward for consideration. More points could be possible if a class or student chooses to make more than one proposal. 
3. Teamwork and creativity are highly encouraged.

Challenge 7 - Period Attendance (see Challenge 2)

Points Breakdown

 

Extra Points:

There will be four Bonus Challenges that will be randomly announced. If the challenge is completed, 50 points will be awarded for a max of 200 additional points. 

Admin Discretionary Points Each admin will be able to give 10 students an extra 50 points for positive behaviors or actions at their discretion through-out the semester. 20 slots at 50 points per student would add an additional 1,000 points. 

There may be other possible ways to earn points as we move through the school year.