“Pupil Count Day,” where all public schools in Michigan tally the number of students attending their schools, is next Wednesday, October 5.
It always is important to be in school for learning but on October 5, the financial implications are important, too, because each student translates into state funding for the district where they attend.
Parents are encouraged to make every effort to ensure their children are in school on Pupil Count Day.
In these days of tight economic times, count information is critical to all state public schools districts, including Monroe Public Schools. Michigan schools have two count days per calendar year. The fall count – which is next week – represents 90 percent of state funding. The second count day, which will be in February 2017, represents 10 percent of state funding for a district.
When people think of high school co-op programs, they think of students leaving school to work in fast-food restaurants or in the service industry. But for a Monroe High School graduate, that was not the case. In fact, her co-op work at the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office led to full-time work there as she attends college at Monroe County Community College.
Kaysi Morlan, a 2016 Monroe High School graduate, worked two years in the prosecutor’s office through the MHS co-op program. During that time, she not only was active in MHS business programs, but she also was a member of the National Honor Society and an officer with the MHS chapter of Business Professionals of America. Though the time demands on her were high during her high school years, she still managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude.
One of the lessons learned in business programs at Monroe High School is the value of relationships and bonds. Kaysi used her co-op time at the prosecutor’s office to develop those relationships which ultimately led to full-time employment there.
But for Kaysi, classroom learning continues as the Education Plus Credit Union scholarship recipient is in her first semester at MCCC, with a goal of a double major in business and finance.
The Frenchtown Fiddlers, who over the last several years have entertained thousands of people in the Monroe area, have this week released their first CD, entitled “Fiddlin’ Favorites.”
Music on the CD is traditional American, Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes.
“This music was recorded in a three-hour session on stage at Monroe Middle School near the end of May. It was a brutally hot day after school so the students were able to get a glimpse at the less glamorous part of the music industry,” said Mrs. Ann Felder, Monroe Public Schools orchestra director who leads the after-school performing group comprised of middle- and high-school musicians.
Mrs. Felder explained that the Monroe Middle School was used specifically because there was no air conditioning, fans or blowers to make additional noise or distortion. The session was recorded and the CD produced by Vivo Productions, a Monroe-based professional recording studio.
“We recorded the students for the most part on individual microphones, giving them a wonderful learning experience as to what is involved in a professional recording session,” Mrs. Felder said.
The CDs are available for $10 each from any member of the Frenchtown Fiddlers or by contacting Mrs. Felder at feldera@monroe.k12.mi.us.
The group has several live performances scheduled in the community in the coming weeks. They will perform from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 20, at Wellspring Lutheran, formerly the Lutheran Home. They also will provide music at the lantern tours at the Navarre Anderson Trading Post on Oct. 14, 15, 21 and 22.
Congratulations to Monroe High School’s Homecoming Royalty. Crowned Friday night were Queen Naielah Laister-Jones and King Cameron Kohler. They will reign over the Homecoming Dance festivities on Saturday night. Crowned Princess was Elizabeth Hoffman and this year’s Prince is Omar Montague. Congratulations to all four of the fine Monroe High School students. You all have been first class during your Monroe High years and now you are royalty, too.
"Break the Chain," a feature-length documentary film that addresses the often hidden-in-plain sight issue of human trafficking within Michigan communities and the U.S., will be shown at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, at the La-Z-Boy Center at Monroe County Community. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The film chronicles two survivors of human trafficking, providing a detailed look at how trafficking goes unnoticed within our back yards. A Q and A session will follow the screening. The screening is sponsored by the Monroe County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition. For a copy of a poster containing more information, please click on the link below.
The November 8 election is a very important one for our country and our community. Not only are we electing a new president, but on a local level we are choosing a sheriff, a state representative, various county board members. deciding a college millage and a city fire millage but even closer to home, 10 civic-minded individuals are running for the four the school board seats which are up for election. It is important that all eligible voters are registered and then vote. To that end, Monroe Public Schools is partnering with Monroe City Clerk Michele LaVoy and Monroe Township Clerk Bob Schnurr on a voter registration drive on Tuesday, September 27, at Monroe High School. The drive is aimed at MHS students who will be 18 before November 8, regardless of where you live. Students can register during the lunch hours at MHS that day. But we also invite parents who may not be registered to join us at MHS between 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. next Tuesday to register to vote. Parents – if you come to register, visit the office first, get signed in and you will be directed to the commons to register.
Special thanks, too, to Mrs. LaVoy will be holding voter registration drives on Wednesday, September 28, at Orchard Center High School (10:45 to 11:15 a.m.) and then the Learning Bank from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Vocal Music Department of Monroe Public Schools has received a $1,600 grant from the Michigan Council for Fine Arts to support the district’s popular Vocal Arts Day, which will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017.
The popular a capella group, Three Men and a Tenor, returns to Monroe to be an integral part of the day-long celebration of vocal music in Monroe Public Schools. The group will present a short concert for all third and fourth graders in Monroe Public Schools, do clinics with the 5th through 12th grade choir students and host and perform at the All-City Vocal Concert that night.
At the last All-City Vocal Concert which featured professional entertainers, the attendance was so large that the MHS Auditorium was full and the concert was shown via closed circuit TV to a three-quarters full MHS Commons.
“This should be an amazing day for our students and our program,” said MHS Choral Director Cate Windelborn, who worked over the summer with other choir directors Elise Dinwoody (Monroe Middle School), Staci Dreger (Waterloo), Mary Vincent (Raisinville) and Franny Valdez (Custer,) to prepare and submit the grant request to the Michigan Council for Fine Arts.
It is here. Monroe High School’s homecoming week kicks off on Monday, Sept. 19, and has activities all week long.
Here are some particulars you will want to know:
Game time, location and opponent – Homecoming football game is 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, versus Ann Arbor Pioneer
Week's theme: Wacky Wonderland
Themed days for the week – Monday, Sept. 19, class color day; Tuesday, Sept. 20, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum Day; Wednesday, Sept. 21, Wacky Wednesday; Thursday, Sept. 22, Tea Time; and Friday, Sept. 23, Spirit Day.
Other notable activities -- Monday, lip sync contest at lunch; Tuesday, cupcake eating contest at lunch; Wednesday, food court at lunch; Wednesday, Powder Ouff Game at 6 p.m.; Thursday, hula-hoop contest at lunch; Friday, MHS sports trivia contest at lunch; Friday, pep assembly, 1:15 p.m.
Homecoming Dance time and location – 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at Monroe High School.
Homecoming Parade – The parade is set for 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23. It will leave from Monroe Middle School, travel north on S. Monroe St., west on W. Front St. and disperse just outside the downtown area.
Homecoming court and King and Queen Candidates
Queen Candidates – Claire Burke, Elizabeth Hoffman, Emma Kimble, Naielah Laister-Jones, Alexa Marchese, Olivia Salenbien, Mikayla Tucker and Breanna Wright
King Candidates – Curtis Jewell, Sam Kinsey, Cameron Kohler, Reese LaBudie, Brandon Matthews, Omar Montague, Patrick Reed and Dylan Willis
Friday, September 9, 2016
Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance Message from Mrs. Kreps
Staff and Students:
Sunday, September 11th, 2016, will be the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a failed terrorist attempt directed at Washington, DC. September Eleventh is now recognized as Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
A large majority of the Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy-Seven who lost their lives that day were men and women who had gone to work that morning, like any other day, and found themselves victims of a terrorist attack. Countless first responders, such as firemen and police officers, risked their lives to come to their aid. Four Hundred and Eleven of those first responders lost their lives attempting to save others.
On Patriot Day, we stop to remember.
Since the attacks on Nine Eleven, tens of thousands of Americans serving in our military, have been wounded or killed in battle.
Ten servicemen from Monroe County are among the military personnel who have been killed since Nine Eleven. Among those are: Marine Private First Class Juan G Garza, 20, of Temperance; Army Master Sargent William Lee Payne, 46 of Monroe; Army Private First Class Dennis J. Miller Jr. of LaSalle; Marine Lance Corporal Allan Klein, 34 of Monroe; Army National Guard Captain Lowell Thomas Miller II, 35 of Monroe; Army Private First Class Nicholas J. Greer, 21 of Monroe; Marine Corporal Gary A. Koehler, 21 of Milan; Army Sargent Christopher P. Messer, 28 of Raisinville Township; Army Private First Class Eric W. Hario, 19, of Monroe; and Army Sargent Michael Ingram Jr., 23, of Monroe.
Today, we remember the victims and their families of Nine Eleven and the first responders who sacrificed their lives that day. We would also like to remember our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrificed their lives for freedom for all since Nine Eleven and those who continue to serve so we, as a nation, can remain free and be kept safe from future acts of terrorism. We honor these brave Americans, and let us keep their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. In remembrance, please join me in observing a moment of silence.
Thank You
The President and CEO of National September Eleven Memorial and Museum, Joe Daniels, encourages us to find ways to participate in Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, and he suggests that one of the most powerful ways to do this is performing acts of service in your communities. He believes that if you choose to commemorate the anniversary of Nine Eleven, you are playing an important part in honoring those who were killed, honoring the sacrifices of the first responders, and remembering the spirit of unity that emerged in the aftermath of Nine Eleven.
I know I remember how this spirit of unity in the aftermath of Nine Eleven pulled our country together, so to help ignite this unity every day, I encourage each of you to look for ways to help your classmates and community. It is through helping others that we strengthen our country.
On Sunday, September 11th, please take time to remember and serve.
Tonight, before the start of our home football game, the Monroe Football and Football Mother’s Club will be recognizing and showing appreciation for our military who have served and are currently serving.
Thank you for sharing in this message of remembrance. We are Monroe.
There will be music in air outside of the Monroe Public Schools’ five elementary schools all-day Thursday, September 15, as the Monroe High School Marching Band makes it annual elementary school tour. For the second consecutive year, the district’s orchestra students also will be touring.
The 95-member band and the orchestra students will travel from school to school, giving 10-minute concerts at each school in the school’s parking lot, playground or front lawn, as students come out from class to listen.
The musicians will be at each school for about 15 minutes, performing three of their fall show songs and the Monroe High School song before moving onto the next school. The busy day for the students starts at 9 a.m. and goes through 1:45 p.m.
Although a pretty busy and tiring day for the musicians, it is a great way to kick off the year for elementary school teachers and students and one of the time-honored traditions of the music program at Monroe High School.
The day’s schedule is: 9:15 a.m., Custer 1 and 2 (two performances), 10:25 a.m., Arborwood Campus; 10:55 a.m., Manor; 12:45 p.m., Waterloo; and 1:15 p.m., Raisinville.
The MHS Marching Band is directed by Mr. James Nuechterlein and the Orchestra is directed by Mrs. Ann Felder.