Some 5,500 Monroe Public Schools children – from the youngest to those entering their senior year in the fall – are being encouraged to keep up their reading and math skills throughout the summer months, and members of the Monroe business community have stepped forward to help make sure they do.
Not only that, groups of Monroe Public Schools teachers will be fanning out to various public locations every Monday through Thursday from June 27 through August 4 to coordinate summer outreach reading programs.
Called the Monroe Public Schools Summer Learning Planner program, all students will receive their own 16-page planner at the end of school. In it, they can write their summer goals for reading and math and then record their progress, including how many pages read, how much time spent on reading, and what types of books are being read. When they complete their goals, there are “tickets” they fill out and drop off at participating businesses.
“We know that a lot of learnings from the previous school year is lost during the summer months when children are not in school. This program addresses that. Our reading outreach program also is a way for students to maintain some contact with their teachers and for our teachers to meet their incoming students in a non-formal, yet educational setting,” said Julie Everly, deputy superintendent, Monroe Public Schools.
“The reception from the Monroe business community has been phenomenal. We are very thankful to all. Each participating place will have a container where the students can drop off their completed tickets,” Mrs. Everly said. “Many of the businesses will be handing out surprises when students drop off their tickets, for example a donut at Tim Horton’s, a free copy of the newspaper at the Monroe News, free dessert at Dena’s Restaurant, a kid-appropriate gift at the pharmacy at Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital or different kid-friendly handouts at Monroe Bank & Trust locations in town.”
In addition, a number of the participating businesses have contributed to grand prizes to be awarded to lucky participants at the end of the campaign.
The summer outreach reading program will be at the Navarre Library and Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Ravenwood Park and Willow Green Mobile Home Park on Mondays; Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Meadowbrook Park Monroe Township Park and Oakridge Estates on Tuesdays; Dorsch Library and Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Willow Green Mobile Home Park and South Monroe Townsite Park on Wednesdays; and Ellis Library, and the Monroe Charter Township Tot Lots at Oakridge Estates and Meadowbrook Park on Thursdays. All one-hour reading sessions begin at 1 p.m.
Ticket drop off locations are at Broadway Market, Dena’s Family Restaurant, Education Plus Credit Union, Fifth Third Bank, Go M.A.D. Fitness, Herkimer Radio, Hungry Howies, Key Bank, Meemic Insurance, Monroe Bank & Trust (three locations), Monroe Charter Township Office and Concession Stand, Monroe News, Monroe Public Schools Summer Learning Academy and Administration Building, Oaks of Righteousness Church, Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital, Raymond James Financial, Rick’s Sports, Tim Horton’s (two locations) and Victory Lane Oil Change (two locations.)Busi
Thursday is the last day of the current school year and for students, it will be a half-day of classes. Here are the release times for the various Monroe Public Schools buildings. May you and your family have a safe and restful summer.
Monroe High School – 10:30 a.m.
Orchard Center High School – 10:14 a.m.
Monroe Middle School – 11:09 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.
Waterloo – 11:46 a.m.Your
Orchard Center High School announced its top students for the 2015-2016 school year at an assembly on (Friday) June 3. OCHS freshman Arianna Paul was named the Carolyn LaVoy Student Achievement Award winner as the top student at Orchard Center High School. She was introduced by acting principal Ryan Walentowski. OCHS senior Da’Vonta McQueen was honored with the Dennis Rottenbucher Positive Mental Attitude Award. A number of awards were presented Friday by teachers and administrators at OCHS. Elishia Epps and Bailey Chenevare were presented with the Most Improved Awards for female and male, respectively. Other students with top honors were the Academic All Stars – Jasmine Black, Joseph Hitt, Bailey Chenevare, Adam Armstrong and Teressa Wilkes.
Store written by and pictures taken by Bobb Vergiels
Photos are attached
Due to popular demand – and a whole lot of fun by its campers – SurvivorKids Camp is back this summer at the Knabusch Math and Science Center in Bolles Harbor and is sponsored by Monroe Public Schools.
For four weeks this summer, camps will be offered to junior campers (first to third graders) in the morning sessions and senior campers (fourth to sixth graders) in the afternoon. Morning sessions run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the afternoon sessions run 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Campers will learn skills they may need to survive in the wild. Topics covered will include: fishing, tracking, boating, identification, survival skills, archery, campfire cooking, and wetlands. Campers will tie-dye camp shirts, make a paracord bracelet, and compete in a group scavenger hunt. Note– grades 1-3 will not be participating in archery. The camp is open to all children entering first through sixth grades regardless of where they attend school.
Weekly sessions are from June 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 11-15, and July 18-22. The cost is $95 per camper and scholarships are available by calling (734) 265-3080.
Children who attended previous SurvivorKids Camps, including this year may also be interested in the Advanced SurvivorKids Camp which runs July 25-29. Campers will continue to develop their boating, fishing, archery, and survival skills. Students will also learn orientation, fire-building, and conservation skills. Camp will end with a competition to see your skills, friends and family are invited!
For a registration form; you can print the one attached below, stop at any Monroe Public Schools elementary school office, or visit the website at www.survivorkidscamp.weebly.com More information is available by calling (734) 265-5250.
Monroe Public Schools, in partnership with Monroe Public Access Cable Television and Red Letter Productions, present the Monroe High School graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m., Friday, June 3. To watch them live, either tune in to your local cable channel for MPACT or click on this link.
Time and date: 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 7
Place: MHS Auditorium
Speakers: Dr. Barry Martin, superintendent, Monroe Public Schools; Ryan Walentowski, principal, OCHS; Nikyia Bell, OCHS student
Top two students: Nikyia Bell and Lonnie Dailey
Number of Graduates: 37 (27 OCHS, 10 Monroe Virtual High School)
Passing out Diplomas: Ryan Walentowski, principal
Music: Will all be played digitally, no students or staff actually singing or playing music
Miscellaneous Information: Senior Video will be played. For the first time, MPACT will record the ceremonies for playback at a later time. After the ceremonies appear on MPACT, they also will be posted to YouTube.
-The time and date of the ceremony – 6 p.m., Thursday, June 9.
-The place – Monroe County Community College Administration Building
-The names of any speakers -- Dr. Kojo Quartey, president, Monroe County Community College; Dr. Barry Martin, superintendent, Monroe Public Schools; Jennifer Tucker, Monroe Bank & Trust; Floreine Mentel; and Patricia Kane. The student speaker is Debbie Haines.
-Who is passing out diplomas -- Julie Montri will present candidates. Dr. Martin will give the certificates to students and Dr. Quartey shakes their hand as they leave the stage. Vuncia Council, Learning Bank administrator, will moderate and Cherie Reed and Mrs. Council will provide closing remarks
-Any miscellaneous information about special guests, performances, etc. For the first time ever, this ceremony will be recorded by MPACT for playback on the local cable channel. It also will be available on YouTube after its initial showing on MPACT.
Monroe Public Schools has a new program where high school students entering grades 9 through 12 can complete their physical education credits for graduation during the summer, and not have to take physical education classes during the regular school year.
“This satisfies the physical education credit needed to graduate from Monroe High School,” said Julie Everly, deputy superintendent, Monroe Public Schools. “By taking phys ed in the summer, students can make room in their class schedules throughout the regular school year for other classes.
“Many of our students are interested in additional schedule space for advanced placement, direct college and dual enrollment classes,” Mrs. Everly added. “This also increases the time available for students to take more advanced MHS electives, apprenticeships and certification programs.”
With more than 140 teacher-taught electives and more than 100 more on-line elective courses available during the class day, Monroe High School has a larger selection of electives than all other regional high schools.
The summer learning opportunity will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 27 through August 4 at Monroe High School. The class will focus on lifetime wellness and recreation. In-district transportation will be available and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Cost of the class is $180 per student. In-district scholarships also are available by calling 265-3100.
While open primarily to Monroe High School students, the class also will be available to students from other districts, space permitting.
Because space is limited, early enrollment is suggested.
Two students who attended the former Lincoln Elementary School have been named recipients of the annual Lincoln School Scholarship for graduating Monroe High School seniors.
This year’s recipients are Anna Dazarow and Dedra Brown, both of whom plan to attend college to study psychology and social work.
Anna is graduating with a 3.69 GPA and plans to attend Wayne State University. She credits her former teachers, especially Mrs. Julie Lassey, Mr. Ronnie Riggs, Mrs. Renee Bergman, Mrs. Kirstie Mullins, Mrs. Krystal Clawson and Mrs. Stephanie Taylor for “showing me you can love what you do and for showing me that I can do whatever I want as long as I push myself to do it.”
Dedra is graduating with a 3.68 GPA and plans to attend Adrian College. She was a member of her graduating class’ Top 100 and a member of the National Honor Society. She was described as a “student with an infectious personality, intellect and communications skills who cares for the well-being of her fellow human beings.”
Although Lincoln School has been closed since 2009, before it did, the staff set aside enough money in the school’s scholarship fund so that at least two former Lincoln students annually would qualify for scholarships for as long as there are students in the Monroe Public Schools system who attended Lincoln.
Monroe Public Schools has a new summer program where high school students can complete their physical education credits for graduation, and not have to take a physical education class during the regular school year. The summer learning opportunity will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursday from June 27 through August 4 at Monroe High School. Transportation will be available and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Cost of the class is $180 per student. Scholarships also are available by calling 265-3100. To read more, please check out the attached flyer.