Forty-eight Monroe High School students have successfully reached their first trimester academic goals under the school’s Allies in Monroe (AIM) mentoring program, meaning they each have earned $200 scholarships for their successful efforts.  They were honored at a banquet on December 17.

     AIM – now in its second year – is an academic incentive and mentoring program for all MHS students.  The program is designed to enhance student achievement, increase the number of students furthering their education after high school, and improve student-staff-community relationships.  It also aims to enhance the overall Monroe High School career- and college-ready culture.  MHS’ AIM is the only program of its kind in Monroe County.  

     “We are very proud of these students, many of whom earned similar academic awards last year,” said Monroe High School Teacher David Henry, who coordinates the school’s AIM program.  “These students know that someone believes in them.  They have shown tremendous persistence and have learned through AIM that hard work does pay off.  This is another way that we help our students to succeed.” 

     In the program, students are paired with an adult mentor – called an ally -- to help motivate and encourage them to reach at least a 15-percent increase in their grade-point-average or some other agreed-upon stretch target.  In the program’s first four trimesters, about 150 students have earned the $200 scholarship rewards, meaning the program has awarded about $30,000 to deserving MHS students.

     “We are thankful for the sponsors we have who have stepped up to support this program.  They make it work for our students,” Mr. Henry said.  At Thursday’s recognition banquet, these sponsors, called Angels, were recognized:  Mike and Wendy Gaynier, Bruce and Kim Diven, Ryan and Dory Philbeck – Patriot Group, Elevate Church, Tim and Margie Lake, Monroe High School Alumni Association and GROW Monroe. Monroe Bank & Trust, La-Z-Boy and DTE Energy were thanked.

     Although AIM is a Monroe High School program, no district money can be used to support it so AIM is governed by a board which oversees the securing of funds to support the program.  Potential supporters can contact Mr. Henry at 265-3612.

     Here are the students who earned first trimester recognition through AIM:

Seniors – Aja Alamo, Caitlin Daniels, Adrian Finney, Jaleene Frayer, Kara Graff, Isziah Harris-Madison, Kylee Heringhausen, Jacob LaBeau, Kyle Lange, Tevin Nickols, Jordyn Raymo,Brendan Russeau, Bandon Scheffler, Frederick Shipp, Julie Siech, Lauren VanKlingeren, Cinnamin Warren and Jalen Wilkerson.

Juniors – Austin Amolsch, Angelina Blake, Tyreke Hood, Derek Kennedy, Skylar Sortor, and Mariah Wilkes.

Sophomores – Dekayla Adams, Jina Alley, Kristen Bolster, Lauren Brooks, Precious Dafney-Burciaga, Tatum Dusseau-Johnson, Dante Holliday, Alexandria Leone, Andi Martin, Johnathan McNamee, Catherine Noble, Harlan Pfefferle, Andrew Pruchnic, Elliah Redden, Lauren Steve and Natalie Trout.

Freshmen – Deysha Ambert, Elizabeth Bray, Ashley Harris, Anthony Levesque, Sydnee Martin, Daniel Robertson, Jaccob Short, and Anna Traver. 

Monroe Public Schools has received its aggregate results for students on the 2014-2015 statewide assessment known as M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress.)

    Last spring, students were assessed in their proficiencies in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science and Social Studies.  As predicted by state education officials when the tests were being taken during the last school year, student scores across Michigan showed that the tests were more challenging than what students experienced under the previous state-sponsored tests, the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) tests. 

     “We expected proficiency levels to be different than before, just as they were across the state, and these results set a new baseline for measuring student progress on these challenging tests,” said Dr. Barry Martin, superintendent, Monroe Public Schools.  “These results are important for understanding student learning going forward.

     “Like most years, there are certain groups of our students who performed at or above state averages.  For us, it was third grade where both reading (ELA) and math proficiencies were on a par with state averages,” Dr. Martin said.

     “There is much work we will continue to do to help our Monroe students to increase their proficiencies across the board.  Our commitment as a district is to work with our students in the years they are with us to help them succeed by preparing them for careers and/or college,” Dr. Martin said.

            The Monroe High School Student Prevention Team is “setting up shop: in the school cafeteria this week to convince their fellow students the seriousness of drug abuse, both for illegal substances and with improperly used prescription drugs. 

            The 12-member Student Prevention Leadership Team recently attended the third annual Monroe County Prescription Abuse and Heroin Summit December 1 at Monroe County Community College.  The goal of the team is to show fellow students how they can avoid starting the drug abuse in the first place.  They also want to stress the seriousness of the situation and how innocently it can start. 

            Starting Monday (Dec. 14) the team isl hosting a table in the cafeteria during all lunches.  Students will have a chance to have their pictures taken and record how they can make good choices that will help when negative pressures come their way.  The top comments will be used by the Monroe County Substance Abuse Coalition as tweets and as a future billboard in Monroe.M

The Detroit Tigers may not be playing baseball in Detroit for another few months but Monroe-area Tigers’ fans can start getting ready for the season when Mario Impemba, Fox Sports Detroit play-by-play broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers, comes to Monroe on Wednesday, January 20, to speak at a fundraiser benefitting the Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools.

     The two-hour event will begin at 6 p.m., January 20, at the Monroe Bank & Trust headquarters’ community room, 10 Washington St.  Tickets are $25 each and include light refreshments and a chance to hear the veteran Tigers broadcaster talk about the upcoming season and take audience questions.  Tickets are limited and only will be available via pre-sale.  Tickets will not be available at the door.

Check out the attached flyer.

     “We are making tickets available now because we believe they will make great stocking stuffers and Christmas presents for the Tigers fans on anyone’s gift list,” said Deb Thornton, president, Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools.  “Hearing the man who talks about Tigers baseball all summer long talk about Tigers baseball in Monroe is a great way to chase away the mid-winter blahs and yell ‘Play Ball.’”

     Tickets are available during regular business hours at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building, 1275 N. Macomb St., or from any Foundation Board member. 

     Mario Impemba has been the play-by-play voice of Tigers baseball on Fox Sports Detroit since 2002.  He also announced basketball for the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies and formerly broadcast California Angels baseball prior to coming to Detroit.  He is a graduate of Michigan State University.M

The Mobile Food Pantry will visit Orchard Center High School from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 12.  A free food package will be given to the first 200 Monroe Public Schools families.  You do not need to pre-register for this event.  To receive food, a parent or guardian must be present, children must be enrolled at one of the Monroe Public Schools, and be eligible for the Federal Food Subsidy Program or be a family in transition.  Each family wishing to receive a food package must produce an identification, such as a parent’s driver’s license or school ID showing Monroe County residency.  This event is in conjunction with the Monroe County Opportunity Program and Gleaners Food Bank.   

Monroe Public Schools students will have a half day of classes on Wednesday, December 9.  Here are the release times for each school.  Monroe High, 10:30 a.m.; Monroe Middle, 11:09 a.m.; Orchard Center, 10:40 a.m.; Arborwood North, 11:43 a.m.; Arborwood South, 11:48 a.m.; Custer 1, 12:14 p.m.; Custer 2, 12:11 p.m.; Manor, 12:01 p.m.; Raisinville, 12:01 p.m.; and Waterloo, 11:46 p.m. 

Elementary students at Monroe Public Schools will be able to take a short trip to Greece the week of December 7 just by standing in the cafeteria line at school and ordering the spcial fare that will be available.

                All year long Sodexo, food service provider for Monroe Public Schools is hosting its World Flavor Series and the country of the month for December is Greece.  Each day in two cafeterias, Sodexo chefs will set up a special line to serve made-to-order food as part of the special cuisine.  Three Greek foods are chicken gyro and hummus. 

                Normal lunch still will be available that day but the Greek offerings will be an additional choice that day for students.

                Here is the serving schedule:

Monday, December 7 – Custer 1 and Waterloo

Tuesday, December 8 – Arborwood North and South

Thursday, December 10 – Waterloo and Raisinville.

Chances are good that most of the 1,000-plus students at Michigan’s largest elementary school didn’t even know their schoolmate, Chase Reaume, who is suffering from a rare, serious blood disease.

            But when word spread through Monroe Public School’s two-building Custer Elementary School Campus that Chase, a fifth grader and one of their own, needed help, the children stepped up to “Lace ‘Em Up for Chase,” a half-mile jaunt along the school’s paved walking and running track in early November.

            The result -- $5,252 was raised for Chase’s family to pay medical bills, and more than $4,100 of it came as a result of children bringing money in for the opportunity to run in the event.  As Principal Lisa McLaughlin said, it didn’t matter how much they brought in, just that they did.

            “Some of the kids who brought in money were from families who could probably least afford it but it was important to the kids they that they help the ‘boy who goes to my school,’” Mrs. McLaughlin said.  “Some of the kids brought in their donations in nickles and dimes wrapped in plastic wrap.

            “We told the kids that no matter how big or small the donation was, everyone’s input is valuable, ” Mrs. McLaughlin said.  The kids went home and go mom and dad involved, too, she added.

            The event had some other benefits that might not have been totally anticipated but were successful because the students got their parents interested.  For instance, the bone marrow donor group, Be The Match, set up a table at “Lace ‘Em Up for Chase,” and came away with a number of potential bone marrow donors they did not have before.  The local Red Cross chapter also was present to promote an upcoming school blood drive.  The response was so strong and so many people signed up for a December blood drive that another blood drive has been scheduled for January.

            “This whole event has helped our students to see how important it is to think of others.  The kids know now that even though they are young, they can still help out and their input is important,” Custer third grade teacher Teresa Stewart said.   

Service to the community and to “members of the family” in a variety of ways is a tradition at Monroe High School, especially with its student council.

            A full-time class for which the students must apply and be chosen, the student council not only works on various activities year-round as a team but the 30 students in Mrs. Anne Knabusch’s class also are graded on whether or not they spend the required number of hours as an individual in community service projects throughout the Monroe community during the school year, too.

            The group does the fun and funny – like plan and carry out Homecoming and Winterfest (important rites of passage for high schoolers,) and they even don cartoon characters’ costumes to walk in the local Christmas parade or help with the school district’s Monroe County Fair booth which attracts well over 15,000 children each year.  It also does the serious side of service such as serving food to the homeless at a local traveling soup kitchen or spearheading a winter coat drive.  While doing all of that, they are using the event planning principles they have learned in class to plan a blood drive and pull together the Christmas items for the group’s Adopted Family at Christmas. 

            Whew.  That might be tiring for many.

            But the group always has time and a burst of energy to take care of “one of the family” when it needs to.  Especially in a pinch.

            At the start of the school year, the student council learned that a legally-blind freshman at Monroe High School wanted to purchase a special $15,000 set of eyeglasses.  She had tried them at a clinic and for the first time, had gotten to see her mother’s face. 

            Knowing it just had to help, the student council sought permission from the athletic department and did collections at a school soccer match and the high school home football game a few nights later.  The collection?  More than $1,700 in coins and dollar bills.  But the collection was topped off when one of the council members appealed to the Monroe Exchange Club which donated another $500 to the cause.  Just before Thanksgiving, with the help of the student council, the student crossed the $15,000 threshold so she will be able to obtain her glasses and experience the joy of sight.      

Several weeks ago, more than 2,200 people signed up to add texting to the way that Monroe Public Schools can contact them for various items of interest in the district.  However, some people did not sign up with the initial offering but have since decided that they wanted to sign up to receive text message from MPS. 

          Parents and staff members still have time to sign up.

          Just follow these easy instructions.

• Ensure that the mobile phone number you are calling from is on file with your child’s school.  You will know that it is if you have received group phone calls from Monroe Public Schools before on that phone and number.
• Using that device, text Y to the number 68453.  As simple as that, you have been registered.
• If you need assistance while doing this, text H-E-L-P to 68453.  To opt out at any time, text STOP to 68453.  Message and data rates may apply.