A program on the growing problem of human trafficking will be presented by the Monroe Post of the Michigan State Police at the Monroe Middle School Auditorium at 6 p.m., Tuesday, November 10.
The program is free and open to the public.
“We are glad to partner with the state police to present this program,” said Monroe Middle School Principal Cindy Flynn. “We want our community to know just how big a problem this is and how they can help their children to steer clear of situations that may cause them harm.”
Registration is open now for Monroe Virtual High School for people from 9th grade through 19 years old who are not currently registered in high school but who want to earn their high school diplomas. There is no cost to register for classes.
MVHS, operated by Monroe Public Schools, is the county’s longest-running virtual school and has made it possible for nearly 50 students to earn high school diplomas who otherwise might not have gotten the opportunity. Monroe Virtual High School, which has been recognized by the University of Nebraska, started offering classes in 2010.
“For people seeking their high school diplomas after they had left high school, this is where those students can succeed,” said Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Martin.
Students at MVHS do most of their school work on-line outside of the classroom at times and places that are most convenient for them. They are required to spend five hours weekly in the MVHS classroom with instructor Courtney Bodgen. While study and lectures are done on-line, all testing is done in the classroom in front of a proctor at the former South Monroe Townsite School. Students without internet-ready computers are assigned one when they register with Monroe Virtual
Monroe Virtual High School’s flexible schedule is the perfect choice for students who because of job, family considerations or other circumstances left school before earning their high school diplomas. All students who complete their graduation requirements at MVHS receive a high school diploma. In fact, a good number of them have participated in graduation ceremonies with the next high school class.
Persons interested in registering or talking with the instructor for more information are asked to call Mrs. Bodgen at Monroe Virtual High School at 734-265-5018.
News media: For more information – Bobb Vergiels 734-265-3185
In what might be the first time in the history of the Monroe City Council and the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education, the two bodies will have a joint workshop at 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 26, at Monroe High School.
Although no “official” business will be transacted at the workshop, the two governmental bodies have a number of similar issues which now will benefit from face-to-face discussion. The public is invited.
“Nearly half of our students attend school in the City of Monroe, so we have considerable interest in the issues which affect the city,” said Dr. Barry Martin, superintendent, Monroe Public Schools.
“Monroe Public Schools is one of the biggest land owners in the City and we want to ensure we have a continuing open dialogue on issues that are vital for our city and our schools,” said Monroe Mayor Robert Clark.
An agenda will be available soon.
For more information: Bobb Vergiels 734-265-3185
Girl athletes in grades four through eight will have an opportunity to learn how to play basketball and hone their skills in the Annual Trojan Hoops Basketball Fall League.
The league will begin with a two-hour clinic from 10 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, October 31. Players will be grouped according to ability and grade. Games will be played from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on successive Sundays – Nov. 8, 15, 22, and 29, and Dec. 6 and 13. Before each game, there will be an instructional period. Coaches includes Monroe High School varsity coach Larry Nocella, his staff and players.
Registration is requested by Oct. 27. The cost is $50 if registered by October 27, and $55 if registered at the door on October 31. All participants will receive a 2015-2016 Monroe Girls Basketball Spirit Wear tee shirt at the end of league play. A registration blank is attached to this posting.
Persons with question can contact Coach Nocella at 734-693-0178.
The Monroe High School Council will accept donations tonight to help a schoolmate with a visual impairment to purchase a new set of glasses. Monroe High Freshman Abrielle Krupa suffers from Dominant Optic Atrophy and will be able to see much better with eSight glasses that will cost $15,000.... The donations being sought by the student council will go to Abrielle’s family to help them purchase special glasses for her. The fundraiser, which is held in conjunction with Visual Impairment Awareness Month this month, is another example of the fine work done by the student council in leading their school mates – and in this case attendees at the Monroe-Saline football game Friday night – in helping others.
There will be a half day of school for Monroe Public Schools students on Wednesday, October 14.
The Monroe High School Council will be accepting donations tomorrow night to help a schoolmate with a visual impairment to purchase a new set of glasses. Here, MHS Student Council members (from left) Anna Tartarian, Brianna Brown, Madi Farris and Matthew Huntoon take a quick break from preparing signs to publicize the effort. Monroe High Freshman Abrielle Krupa suffers from Dominant Optic Atrophy and will be able to see much better with eSight glasses that will cost $15,000. The donations being sought by the student council will go to Abrielle’s family to help them purchase special glasses for her. The fundraiser, which is held in conjunction with Visual Impairment Awareness Month this month, is another example of the fine work done by the student council in leading their schools mates – and in this case attendees at the Monroe-Saline football game Friday night – in helping others.
The Monroe High School Equestrian Team has ridden its way into the state championships for the first time ever. With its “Reserve Champion” placement last weekend in Region E, the team has qualified to compete in the state championships in Midland, Oct. 15-18. The Monroe High School team is the only Monroe County team to qualify for the state championships.
A club sports team, the equestrians have been riding representing Monroe High School since 2003, said Coach Sheri Kalenkiewicz. Mike Humphries is the assistant coach and Loren Huber is the team assistant/alumni advisor.
Riders for the team are: Seniors Sara Kalenkiewicz, Samantha Humphries, and Jessica Vanderlan; junior Aleesha Colpaert, sophomores Peyton Zorn and Mackynze Slatinsky, and freshman Rylee Richardson.
The run for championships is quite a story. Last year, the group was very pleased to make the regionals. This year, competing in District 7, they were crowned champions after being Reserve Champs in 2014. In fact, they won the division championship several weeks ago with 518 points compared with 334 for the second-place school. With the regional win last weekend, no one remembers the team ever having gone so far. But don’t call the team’s run a “fairy tale,” because a state championship has been their goal all along this season.
Competition at the state level is spread over four days with different riders participating in different competitions on different days. The riders, their families and their horses stay up in Midland for those days – not an inexpensive venture for the families since this is a club sport with no financial support from the MHS Athletic Department. Mrs. Kalenkiewicz said the participants and their families must pay for their lodging and the horses’ lodging and food, too, so sponsors always are welcome.MHS equestrian team in state finals
The Monroe High School Homecoming is being observed all week long with events every day of the week leading up to Friday and Saturday. The Trojans will play Bedford at 7 p.m., Friday, in the Homecoming game, which is preceded by the Homecoming Parade at 5 p.m., which leaves from Monroe Middle School, heads north along S. Monroe St., and then to the K of C Hall on W. Front St.
At half-time of the football game, the homecoming King and Queen wil be named. Here are the seniors who are the candidates: Queen candidates -- Alexa Angel, Allyssa Bukovitz, Cayla Frank, Jenna Gallottia, Sloane Lynch, Katja Oklejas, Taylor Thompson, and Cheyenne Tucker; King Candidates -- Sam Baker, Cameron Delben, Nick Fortner, Avery Haynes, Matt Huntoon, Nathaniel Koenecke, Marlon Martin and Connor Tullis.
The king and queen will reign over the Homecoming Dance at 7 p.m., Saturday night. Tickets are $15 each and available during school this week.
Numerous activities will be going on during school days but Wednesday night’s PowderPuff football game between the senior girls and the junior girls starts at 6 p.m. at Bunkelman Field and is open to the public. Afterwards, there will be a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings where a percentage of the bill goes to the Class of 2016 if the diner has a special coupon.
The Tools for School promotion of Old National Bank is nearing the end – 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 30 – and some Monroe schools are bunched in near the top. That’s the good news but the story here is that you have to make sure the people who can vote for four your schools and “like” Old national Bank’s Facebook page do those things before the deadline.
Late last week, Arborwood held a 155-vote lead over a school Washtenaw County and it was pretty much a two-school race at that point. In fifth place was Waterloo Elementary with Monroe Middle School eighth.
Please check your school’s Facebook page for a link to vote for your school. The winning school will win $1,000 from Old National Bank and could also qualify for a $5,000 grant from Old National Bank if its Facebook page hits 10,000 likes.