If you were not able to make it out to the Monroe High School graduation -- or if you were and you would like to see it again -- check out this link.  Enjoy

https://youtu.be/H82uTTrtsx0?t=3m52s

Valerie Orr, who in her two years as Monroe High School principal led the change to a college-going culture at Monroe County’s largest high school, has been selected as the next superintendent of Whiteford Agricultural Schools.  The Whiteford school board voted Wednesday night to hire Mrs. Orr as its superintendent.

                “We are very happy for Val that she has been selected for the Whiteford position.  She has done a tremendous job at Monroe High School and we are thankful for the time she spent with us,” said Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Martin.  “We wish her all the best at Whiteford.”

Graduation exercises will be held outside at the Monroe High School football field tonight at 6:30 p.m. as planned.  No tickets will be required for entry.  However, it would be wise to bring an umbrella and something like a towel or cushion to sit on since there is a possibility of scattered rain this afternoon.  Persons who do not care to sit outside can still view the ceremonies on closed-circuit television in the air-conditioned Monroe High School Auditorium.   The MHS parking lot will open for graduation parking at 5 p.m. today.  In addition, a shuttle will run starting at 5 p.m. from the north parking lot at Monroe County Community College to the MHS parking lot, and will take attendees back to the MCCC parking lot after the ceremonies.  

If you cannot make the ceremonies, please join us via YouTube by clicking on this link

http://mpactstudio.org/live/

The live stream will begin about 6:15 p.m. 

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

For the second year in a row, the Monroe High School graduation ceremonies will be streamed live over YouTube and can be accessed by clicking on this link.  http://mpactstudio.org/live/  Ceremonies start at 6:30 p.m., Friday, at Monroe High School and the live stream will be viewable about 6:15 p.m., EDT.  Last year's live stream was viewed in many states in the US and nearly a dozen foreign countries.  The ceremonies will be available on a recorded basis, too, on the same URL after commencement has concluded.  Monroe High School is the only Monroe County high school to live stream its graduation exercises.  The live stream is a joint production of Monroe Public Access Cable Television, the Technology and Communications Departments of Monroe Public Schools and Red Letter Productions.     

                Good things have come in threes recently for the Monroe Public Schools instrumental music program.  The trend continues as three musicians have received state-wide recognition and three musical groups – including a vocal group – earned superior ratings recently at an Ohio musical festival.

            Three students earned prestigious Michigan School Band and Orchestra (MSBOA) Scholar Instrumentalist Awards, which recognize young musicians who achieve both academically and musically.  Monroe students who were recognized were Morgan Kline, Monroe High School Orchestra; Jacob Foulkrod, Monroe Middle School Orchestra; and Erin Bressler, Monroe Middle School Band.

            “In the State of Michigan, this is a very exclusive group since each member school may nominate only one school musician per year in orchestra and band,” said Mrs. Ann Felder, orchestra director at MMS and MHS.  The students were nominated by Mrs. Felder and by Monroe Middle School band director Chris Morelli.

            In another musical activity that involved threes, over this past weekend, three groups from Monroe Middle School earned superior ratings in the annual Trills and Thrills Festival in Sandusky, Ohio.  Those groups are the Monroe Middle School Orchestra, MMS eighth-grade choir and the MMS eighth-grade band. 

     Lunch prices will rise by 10 cents next school year, the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education has decided, but prices in MPS cafeterias still will be lower than most of the other Monroe County districts are this school year.

     Even with the adjustment, elementary lunch prices will be the lowest in Monroe County in the public school districts.  After the adjustment, secondary lunches still will be lower priced at Monroe than at four regional districts were this year. 

     For the 2014-15 school year, hot lunch prices were $1.95 per lunch for elementary and $2.70 for secondary grades 7-12.  Those prices will be adjusted to $2.05 and $2.80, respectively, next school year.  The 10-cent per lunch adjustment equates to $16.80 annually if a child were to purchase hot lunch at the school cafeteria every day of the nine-month school year.

     Katherine Eighmey, director of Finance, Monroe Public Schools said that the Federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires school food providers to adjust lunch prices annually based on an averaging formula provided in the act,meaning that the district was required to increase the lunch prices.  Monroe’s “weighted” average would be $2.41 per lunch, she said, based on the percentage of lunches for elementary students and secondary students.

When it comes to the Entertainment in the Park series for the City of Monroe, they have saved the best for first.  The Monroe High School Jazz Band will kick off this summer’s Thursday night music series with a concert at 7 p.m., this Thursday at St. Mary’s Park.  City Recreation Director Loretta LaPointe said of the MHS jazz band, “The talent of the youth in the jazz band is always phenomenal.  It is a pleasure to have them kick off our concert series.”  Admission is free so bring your lawn chair.

Yearbooks are on their way!  All students who ordered a yearbook will receive it on Thursday, May 28.   There will only be 30 extra books per grade level for sale.  The cost of a book on May 28 is $50, cash only, on a first come, first served basis.  There is no waiting list or sign up for the extra books. If you’re unsure if you’ve ordered a yearbook, there is a list posted in the showcase outside room 112.  If a student has a question, please see Mrs. VanKlingeren in room 112, before or after school.

The food service staff members from Sodexo at Monroe Public Schools will hold a garage sale at the Riverside Early Learning Center, 77 N. Roessler St., Monroe, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30.  Profits from the sale will go to the Gleaners Food Bank for its back pack food program which benefits a number of Monroe Public Schools students.  When attending the sale, please approach from either W. Elm Ave. or N. Roessler St., since the Roessler St. bridge is closed to through traffic.