Monroe High School will host the sixth annual Monroe Competitive Cheer Invitational this Saturday, January 30.  A total of 17 middle school and high school competitive cheerleading teams will participate and a number of fans are expected at MHS since competitive cheer teams travel with a lot of fans.  The event starts at 10 a.m.  The Monroe Middle School and Monroe High School Competitive Cheerleading teams will compete. 

Other squads to compete are Saline Middle School, Lincoln Park Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, Ypsilanti Lincoln Middle School, Renton Middle School, Strong Middle School, Flat Rock Junior Varsity, Airport Junior Varsity, Ypsilanti Lincoln Junior Varsity, Lincoln Park Varsity, Saline Varsity, Ypsilanti Lincoln Varsity, Airport Varsity, Melvindale Varsity, and New Boston Huron Varsity.

     Registration is now open for adults wishing to enroll in Adult Education classes at the Learning Bank of Monroe and at Orchard Center High School.  These classes, which begin February 10, are for persons who are out of school and who wish to earn their General Education Degree (GED.)

     Space still is available in the day classes which are held at the Learning Bank at E. First and Winchesters Sts. and the night classes which are held at Orchard Center High School, 1750 Oak St.

     To register, visit the Learning Bank between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  Classes are free.  Orientation and Power Up Class will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., February 10 and 11. 

     “For people who have ‘always wanted to earn their GED’ or who have made a New Year’s Resolution that ‘this is the year to get that GED,’ these are the classes and now is the time to sign up,” said Vuncia Council, director, Learning Bank of Monroe. 

     Persons with questions can call the Learning Bank at 265-4200. 

There will be a half-day of classes for Monroe Public Schools students on Wednesday, January 27.   Pre-school at Riverside will operate on its normal schedule, and kid’s club at Custer and Riverside will operate on the regular schedules, too. 

Here are the half-day release times:

Monroe High School  10:30 a.m.

Orchard Center High School  10:14 a.m.

Monroe Middle School  11:09 a.m.

Arborwood North Elementary  11:43 a.m.

Arborwood South Elementary  11:48 a.m.

Custer 1 Elementary  12:14 p.m.

Custer 2 Elementary 12:11 p.m.

Manor Elementary  12:01 p.m.

Raisinville Elementary  12:01 p.m.

Waterloo Elementary  11:46 a.m.

Good morning Monroe Public Schools parents and staff.  Due to cold weather and a long weekend, some buses are experiencing starting problems this morning.  That means that some buses may be running a little later than normal this morning.  Not all buses, but some.  Please bear that in mind as you send your child out to wait for the bus this morning.  No child will be marked tardy this morning if they are riding on a bus which runs late.  Thank you and have a good day.

Detroit Tigers TV broadcaster Mario Impemba, who will speak in Monroe on Wednesday night in a benefit for the Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools, will be interviewed live Monday night on 106.5 FM The Ticket radio station by Mike Miller.  Tickets for the broadcaster's visit still are available Tuesday and Wednesday at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building, 1275 N. Macomb St., or at the gate,if they are not sold out.  To listen to Monday's broadcast, click on this link or copy and paste it into your browser

.http://www.1065theticket.com/?p=393298

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In honor of the National Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, January 18, that there will be no school.  In addition, the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building also will be closed on Monday.  Classes will resume and the administration building will reopen on Tuesday, January 19.

Four Monroe High School marketing students who are members of the school’s DECA program qualified to participate in the DECA State Career Development Conference in Detroit, March 11-13, after their performances in the DECA District V Career Development Conference at Eastern Michigan University. 

     The four, and their areas of competition/expertise are:

Jack Ingels, Business Services Marketing.

Reese Labudie, Restaurant And Food Service Management.

Katja Oklejas, Business Financial Services.

Sven Wollschlaeger, Human Resource Management.

     DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.  DECA events and chapters develop leadership skills, professional attitudes, business competency, citizenship characteristics, and social growth in all members. 

     Also participating for Monroe High School at the District competition and receiving test score medals were:  Nicholas Buchko, Management Series; and Andrew Rabines, Retail Merchandising Series. 

Monroe Public Schools Board of Education President Robert Yeo was re-elected board president for 2016 at the board’s organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 12.  It is the fourth consecutive year that Mr. Yeo has held that post.

            Also re-elected were Larry VanWasshenova, vice president, and Ryan Philbeck, secretary.  Monroe Public Schools Business and Finance Director Katherine Eighmey was re-appointed board treasurer.

            The board voted Tuesday night to continue to hold its regular board meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.  Workshops, which generally precede board meetings, will continue to start at 5:30 p.m.

Good morning  Monroe Public Schools parents and staff.  Due to the snowy roads and the weather forecast for the rest of the day, there will be no school today, Tuesday,  January 12, for Monroe Public and Parochial Schools.  In addition, kids club is cancelled at Custer and Riverside and all after-school district related activities, are cancelled for today, too. .  Thanks, drive carefully and have a good day. 

Successful swimmers and wrestling coaches who developed some of the greatest grapplers in Trojans history lead the Monroe High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 which will be recognized and inducted to the Hall on February 5.

     This year’s class members are:  Amanda Thompson, swimming, 2003-2007; Ashley McLaughlin, swimming, 2000-2004; Ben Notario, baseball, 2005-2009; Bob Butler, wrestling coach, 1971-1992; Dave Strini, wrestling coach, 1972-1978; Cole Sanseverino, track, 2003-2007; Neil Watts, swimming, 1958-1960; and William Stoner, track, 1927-1930. 

     Here are thumbnail bios of the Class of 2016.

Amanda Thompson – A four-year varsity swimmer at MHS, she set school and conference records in the 100-yard butterfly, winning the individual state championship in 2006.  An All American and All-Conference selection, she swam four years at the University of Toledo, qualifying for the USA National Championship, breaking the 100-yard butterfly school record each year and helping U-T win its first Mid-American Conference title. 

Ashley McLaughlin -- A three-time state champion at MHS, she still holds three school varsity swimming records and in 2003 won the USA Swimming Junior National Championship in the 50-meter breast stroke.  Ashley swam at the University of Michigan on a full athletic scholarship and three times was Academic All-Big Ten.  She placed ninth in the 100-meter breaststroke as a senior in the Big 10 championship.

Ben Notario --Twice each Ben was second-team All-State, Monroe County Player of the Year and unanimous All-League selection who went onto the play in the MHSAA All-Star game at Comerica Park.  The MHS single season (8) and career (17) home run record holder, he hit .532 as a senior, with a .591 on-base percentage, collecting 59 hits, 15 doubles, 8 homers and 43 rbi. 

Bob Butler -- Instrumental in establishing the MHS wrestling program, Coach Butler started as JV coach and varsity assistant.  Named varsity coach for the 1978-79 season, his teams were league champs or co-champs 10 of his 13 seasons, compiling a 153-65 record.  Coach Butler developed numerous regional champs and state place finishers, two state champs and several wrestlers who competed collegiately.

Dave Strini -- Launched the MHS wrestling program, building it into a state power in just five years.  He led teams which won the Great Lakes Eight championship multiple times, earned a fourth-place finish in the state meet and produced several individual state champions.  Coach Strini also started a Monroe city-wide wrestling program for youngsters 5 to 14 which still is open today.

Cole Sanseverino -- A two-time MHSAA state champion in the 1600 meter run in his junior and senior years, Cole also was a distinguished cross-country runner, finishing 7th and 3rd in the state cross country meet in his junior and senior years. 

Neil Watts -- Undefeated in dual meets in his junior and senior years, Neil won a state championship in 1960 in the 200-yard freestyle.  He went on to swim at Michigan State University, lettering in 1962-1964.  After graduating from MSU, Neil served 20 years with the U. S. Navy, including time in Vietnam.

Bill Stoner -- He led MHS to its first state track championship in 1930, setting a pole vault record en route to becoming the Class B state champion.  In his senior year, he played on the undefeated 1929 football team that gave MHS’ a 20-game winning streak.