As the month of August rolls toward the beginning of the 2016-17 school year on September 7, parents should take note of the following open house dates.
The first open house is set for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, August 24, at Orchard Center High School.
All of Monroe’s elementary schools – Arborwood, Custer, Manor, Raisinville and Waterloo – will hold their open houses from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31.
For Monroe Middle School, open house is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, September 1.
Monroe High School scheduled as a little different with activities starting August 23 and continuing through August 25. Click on this link to learn more about specifics in the schedule. http://www.monroe.k12.mi.us/District/News/4692-Tips-offered-for-MHS-registrations.html
With the MHS registration days approaching and the always popular and valuable New Trojan retreat right on the heals of upper-classmen registration, Monroe High School Principal Mrs. Sandy Kreps has some great opportunities for students as they prepare to come back to school.
Important stuff and you will not want to miss out on these opportunities available at Monroe High. Make sure you check out the attached document listing these great opportunities. Parents you will want to review these with your sons and daughters to make sure they realize what great options and programs await them at Monroe High.
Dick Sieb and wife Marjorie are the longest-running providers of scholarships for players graduating from the Monroe High School football program. Each year for the last 47 years they have provided support for a Trojan scholar-athlete moving on to a college football program. Proudly wearing the number 48 to signify the start of the 48th year the Siebs have supported the Monroe High student athletes is this year’s recipient, Marlon Martin Jr., who this week starts football practice at Albion College, where he will study civil engineering and mathematics. Martin, an all-Region running back during his MHS days, will be tried at wide receiver and defensive back by Albion. “Our football program is extremely fortunate to have such generous people as the Siebs providing this kind of scholarship support. This provides a tremendous boost for our kids as they enter the next phase of their athletic careers and their studies,” said Dr. John Ray, Monroe High School athletic director.
Scott Burns, a graduate of Monroe High School who went onto a banking career in his home town, has been elected president of the Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools. He succeeds Deb Thornton who has headed the group for the last two years.
Jennifer Tucker was elected vice president of the group. The leadership positions for Burns of Fifth Third Bank and Tucker, who is associated with Monroe Bank & Trust, are for one year. In addition, board members Thornton, Fran Rayce and Yvonne Gnaedinger, were re-elected to three-year board terms.
The Foundation is seeking to expand its board and is welcoming persons who would be interested in joining it. Persons who want to be considered for the board should write a letter of interest to the Foundation, providing a short background and an explanation of why they are interested joining. Please send a letter with your contact information to the Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools, 1275 N. Macomb St., 46162. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2016.
The Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools is the only organization of its kind in a Monroe County public schools district. The organization supports two major Monroe Public Schools programs – one is the scholarship program where roughly a dozen graduating seniors annually receive up to $2,000 in scholarships, and the other is the mini-grant program providing $8,000 annually to support various classroom projects which otherwise might not be possible. The scholarship program has been ongoing for more than 20 years and teachers have been receiving mini-grants for more than 10 years.
Everyone knew that the Monroe High School girls’ softball team played really well on the field – the won-loss record, the state playoff appearance, the overall success of Coach Jim Davis’ team which led to him being named Region Coach of the Year. But recently the team added another honor, a higher one – Academic All-State Award for their Division.
The Trojans, which boasted several players who were on their senior class Top 100 and others who were National Honor Society members, were honored during the girls’ softball all-star game at Central Michigan University for having the highest grade point average in the state in their division, which is Division 1.
Not only were they recognized on the state level, but the team also was honored by the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education at a recent meeting.
“These young ladies are the definition of ‘scholar athlete’ and have proven to be wonderful representatives of Monroe High School, our community and their families,” said Monroe High School Athletic Director Dr. John Ray. “They certainly are one of the ‘Points of Pride’ here at Monroe High School.”
Registration for Monroe Virtual High School (MVHS) will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Tuesday, August 8 and 9, at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building, 1275 N. Macomb St.
Monroe Virtual High School – the longest running school of its type in Monroe County – serves students who range from the 9th grade to 19 years old not currently enrolled in high school but who want to earn their high school diplomas. All MVHS classes are free for the students, just like attending a traditional school. MVHS students do not have to live in the Monroe Public Schools district.
For those attending registration, no appointment is required but persons who were not previously registered in Monroe Public Schools must bring their birth certificate, their immunization record, and a copy of their transcripts when they sign up. Any Monroe High School or Orchard Center High School student who is interested in enrolling in MVHS must consult with his or her counselor first. Persons with questions about enrollment should call 734-265-3072.
When School starts in September, MVHS will be located in the Riverside Early Learning Center, 77 N. Roessler St. It previously had been housed in the former South Monroe Townsite School. The new location provides considerably more parking and easier access.
Monroe Virtual High School, with its flexible schedule, is the perfect choice for students who – because of jobs, family considerations or other circumstances -- left school before earning their high school diplomas. Most learning can be done at home but all students must come to class for a minimum of five hours per week. All testing is done in the presence of a teacher.
Because all courses are on-line, students must have laptop computers with internet access. If a student does not have access at home, MVHS can provide a laptop for use during the time a student is registered.
MVHS has been operated by Monroe Public Schools since 2010 and has helped some 50 people earn their high school diplomas, something they might not have been able to achieve otherwise.
Todd Williams (right), believed to be the only Monroe High School graduate to ever compete in the Olympics, presents his 1992 U.S. Olympic team jersey to Monroe High School track coach Mark Scoles. Scoles said the jersey will be displayed on the athletic wall of honor at Monroe High School. “We want the kids to remember Todd and all his accomplishments to serve as an inspiration that Monroe High School graduates can go on to do great things in whatever field they choose,” Scoles said. Behind the display holding Williams jersey is the MHS Track and Field Records Board bearing the name of Todd Williams and a record he still holds. Among the names which can be seen on the board in the background is Carl Ford who went on to play in the National Football League.
When school starts in September, all 58 Monroe Public Schools buses will be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art on-board safety and security system as a significant upgrade to the camera system which has been in use on MPS buses for the last eight years.
The purchase was approved Tuesday night, July 26, by the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education. The lowest bidder was 247 Security Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga. with a bid of $102,991.
”The camera system we have has been good but it is out of warranty and replacement parts are no longer available. Plus, in the years since we bought the original system, technology has evolved significantly and greater functionality and picture clarity is now available,” said Jerry Oley, Director of Operations for Monroe Public Schools.
The new system will provide four cameras per bus – one camera aimed forward to view the front of the bus and oncoming traffic, cameras at the front, middle, and back inside the bus for a complete view of the passenger compartment. The system also comes with GPS (global positioning system) so as the recorded video is viewed, it is possible to determine the bus location at any time. The system also has a feature recording the vehicle speed to coincide with the image on the screen.
Bus video is downloaded wirelessly from the new system. This is considerably easier than the existing system where a recording device had to be physically removed and plugged into a computer to be viewed.
When it purchased its first bus safety and security system eight years ago, Monroe Public Schools was the first local district to have one. Mr. Oley said that 247 Security provided the first system. To appreciate how much the technology has evolved, when the first 44 camera system was purchased eight years ago, the cost was $40,000 more than the bid awarded Tuesday night and did not include installation. The bid for the upgraded equipment included removal of the current system and installation of the new.
Four companies from around the U.S. and Canada bid to provide the new system on the Monroe Public Schools buses. Mr. Oley credited Transportation Director Frank Henry with doing a thorough search across North America to find qualified companies to bid. Buses
Monroe County Community College recently announced a variety of scholarship to attend that institution in the fall and seven of the recipients were Monroe High School graduates.
Congratulations to:
Alexa Stevens, MHS 2011, JoAnn Naida Nursing Scholarship
Jennifer Jacobs, MHS 2010, Namaste Day Scholarship
Lucas Nieto, MHS 2012, Helen M. and Eugene W. Beach Nursing/RT Scholarship
Nathaniel Pierce, MHS 2012, Sonya Kay Brett Business and Computer Information Systems Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Jamie Terrasi, MHS 2007, Sonya Kay Brett Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship
Ashley Klug, MHS 2014, David L. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship
Kari Cooley, MHS 2015, Gwendolyn M. Jacob Memorial Scholarship
Pictured is a soon-to-be-MCCC student and recent MHS graduate Halley Sellers as she declared her collegiate intentions at the MHS Decision Day last May.
When recently graduated MHS students Noah Dawn and Madyson Farris “run” off to college this fall, they will each do so with $3,000 2016 Todd Williams What it Takes Scholarships presented by Mark Jarrait Insurance of Monroe. The scholarship is named after MHS runner Todd William who ran in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Mr. Jarrait and his agency established the scholarship to celebrate the legacy of Todd Williams and reward student athletes who share his commitment to excellence. The scholarship was open to members of the MHS cross country team who were hard workers, leaders and had a positive influence on the team. One boy and one girl are picked for the scholarship. “This is our first year for this and we really got two good ones for this scholarship,” Mr. Williams said. Noah will run for Oakland University starting this fall and Madyson, who was her class president, will attend Bowling Green State University this fall.