Monroe High School
Cat Tracks
September 2015
Parents and Families
Inside this issue:
Calendar of Events
2
Claw Marks,
Counselor’s Corner
3
Bearcat Pride
5
Yearbook Order Form
6
Picture Day is
Monday ,Sept 21
Picture Make up
Tuesday, Sept 22
Second chance to
have your picture
taken if you missed
Monday
Picture Retake
Friday, Oct 23
Second chance to
get it right if you
didn’t like your first
shot.
I hope all of you had a restful summer and are as anxious as I am to get back into the swing of a
new school year. As in the past, I believe this will be another great year at MHS.
Listed below are several highlights from the 2014-2015 school year. I mention this information
because the results come from the focused work we have undertaken and will continue to
undertake for the betterment of our students.
x We received our third Washington State Academic Achievement Award from OSPI.
x For nine years in a row MHS has improved it’s Freshman success rate. As you can imagine, this is
a continued point of pride for our entire school community.
x Our State math assessment scores through our Block Math classes continue to rank as the
highest in the State.
x Two National Merit Finalists
We have been busy this summer filling open positions and still have a few to finalize. I am very
proud to introduce our new faculty/staff members for 2015-2016:
Lisa Murphy - CTE (Cooking Essentials/Health)
Andrea Garibay – Counselor for the class of 2019
Kendra Peterson – CTE (Heath/Child Psychology/Independent Living)
Shannon Gere – Special Ed Resource
Tim (Prato) Barone – Chemistry
Ester Daly – Science
Stephen Loewen – Drama/English
Brandon Packard – Math
Wendy MacDonald – Math
Jill Rumann – 9th Humanities
Rex Fraser – Art/Math
Kristine Solo – Spanish
Jessica Peterson – English
Denise Palmer – Registrar
Tzel Hernandez - Security
Lance Egli – will be moving from being our School Psychologist to Dean of Students
As I reflect on previous years’ versions of the “welcome back” letter, I am amazed that our
mission/focus has never wavered. Our goals, based on the data, are a little different each year, but
we always place the emphasis on student learning and strengthening instruction through our
Professional Learning Communities; 2015-2016 should and will not be any different.
I look forward to this year, as we strive to serve our students and help each of them reach their
full potential.
Thank you for your continued support!
Go Bearcats!
John Lombardi
Principal
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Monroe School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color,
national origin, age, honorable discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including
gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a
trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and
provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees
have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator, Justin Blasko (360.804.2539) blaskoj@monroe.wednet.edu
Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Ginnie Ayres (360.804.2558) ayresg@monroe.wednet.edu
Compliance Coordinator, Joanne Dickinson (360.804.2532) dickinsonj@monroe.wednet.edu
Address: 200 E Fremont, Monroe, WA 98272
September 2015
Sun
6
Mon
7—
Day
Labor
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
8
9—First Day
10—School
Starts
11—AM Pep
12
17
18
19
Band to UW
24
25
26—Band to
for 9th Graders
Assembly
Schedule #2
Bearcat Pride
Meeting
13
14—College Night
15
Principal’s Chat
School Board Meeting
20
27
16
21—
Picture Day
22 Picture
Make-up Day
23
28
29
30—
School Board Meeting
Homecoming Week
Leavenworth
Coronation
Assembly
Sept 8—11—Thursday Schedule—Schedule #1B
No Study Time—Bell Schedule is Attached to this email.
Sept 15-18—Regular Schedule w/ Study Time
School Board Meetings are held at the District Office on Fremont @ 7:00 pm
Bearcat Pride Meetings are held at MHS in the staff lounge @ 7:00 pm
Principal Chat is held in the MHS staff lounge @ 9:00 am
Band Booster Meetings are held in the PAC @ 7:00 pm
October 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2—AM Assembly
3—Homecoming
Schedule #2
Dance
8-11
Homecoming
Game
Bearcat Fair
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
22
23—
Picture Retake
Day
24
29
30
31
School Board
Meeting
18
19
Bearcat Pride
Meeting
20
21
Principal’s Chat
25
26
School Board
Meeting
27
28
“Claw Marks” MHS Sports Beat
Hello Bearcats!
The new school year for sports
and activities is underway and
excitement is in the air as our
student athletes prepare for the
upcoming season. Many of our
kids have been working hard
this summer to improve their
skills and strength to prepare
themselves for the competition
that lies ahead. As the year
kicks off, please remember a few important items.
First: Please remember that in our athletic programs,
we value and reward outstanding sportsmanship and
leadership. The expectations that we place upon our
athletes and coaches to be leaders and behave
appropriately, both on and off the field, are extremely
high. As a parent and a fan, we ask that you also help
us with this endeavor, reinforcing those positive
attributes with your kids at home and while attending
games and events, acting appropriately in the crowd.
We appreciate your partnership with us in this
endeavor. Please help us by cheering great plays,
encouraging our kids and teams in a positive manner
and refrain from yelling at coaches and officials from
the stands.
Second: We understand that at times there may be
issues or concerns that need to be brought to our
attention throughout the year. When issues arise, our
normal protocol is for parents and players to work with
the coach directly to discuss the situation and work on
solutions as appropriate. Handling those things directly
and in a timely manner has proven to be the best
possible way to solve those issues and move forward.
As the AD, my door is always open as well, especially
with issues pertinent to our athletic program as a whole
or when you feel that issues and concerns have not
been
dealt
with.
Finally,
remember
that www.wescoathletics.com is our league website and
most the pertinent information you need regarding
schedules and teams can be found there.
Counselors Corner
Ms. Woodard
Ms. Amador
Ms. Stevens
Ms. Garibay
Ms. Vandemoortele
Seniors—Class of 2016
Juniors—Class of 2017
Sophomores—Class of 2018
Freshmen—Class of 2019
Special Education
The mission of the Monroe HS Counseling Department is to support and enhance
student’s personal, academic, and career development. School Counselors collaborate
with teachers, administrators, parents and community members and provide
responsive and preventative counseling services to meet student needs.
N H S
J S
…
…
HOW TO GET INTO THE
SCHOOL OF YOUR CHOICE.
P S
T
A P
T
P
E
S
T
S
M. G
,
MHS G
NHS .
M S
14, 7-9 .. I MHS PAC
Parents and students are invited to a seminar on the college application process. Topics include how to pick a school, what's involved with the applications and how to write great application
essays. This seminar is designed for everyone with college
dreams, from our great local community colleges to the Ivy
Leagues. Please come!
Congratulations to Bethany Akers
Named a member to
The National Society of High School Scholars
The National Society of High School Scholars
(NSHSS), an international honors organization
helping to advance the goals and aspirations of
high-achieving students,
I would also like to take this time to welcome to MHS
two new head coaches: Michael Bumpus as our new
Head Football coach, and Bret Ingham as our new
Head Boys Tennis coach. Both coaches bring a passion
to their respective sports and are excited to be working
with our student-athletes.
Food Service Prices
Go Bearcats!
Students who were eligible for free and reduced meals last year may sll
receive school meals when school begins, but a new applicaon must be
turned in as soon as possible to connue
eligibility. An applicaon for free
and reduced meals can be found on the district website or pick one up in the
School’s main office. (Available Mid August)
An applicaon is needed for each household not each student
Mark Henderson
Assistant Principal & Director of Athletics
Breakfast—$2.00
Lunch—$3.25
The 13 Best Tips for Juniors You'll Ever Read
Here are 13 tips for future class of 2017-ers!
1) Your coursework and grades matter the most in this pr ocess. Stellar ACT and SAT scor es can give you a nice boost, but at the
end of the day, those grades are king. They look for the balance- taking the most challenging courses that you can that still allow you to
maintain a strong GPA. And yes, your freshman and sophomore year grades matter. Big time.
2) Take challenging courses but don't over do it leaving you with a sub-par GPA. Again, it is all about finding that balance. said than
3) Think about taking both the ACT and the SAT. Some students do better at one over the other . Taking both may end up
helping you out.
4) Trust your college counselors! Even if you ar e at a big public school, get to know them. They know what they ar e doing and
can be your best advocate in this process.
5) Really get to know your teachers. Invest your time well in the classr oom. Wow them. Make your self missed when you leave.
Become indispensable to your school.
6) Be open to a wide range of schools. Big, small, public, pr ivate, local, international, research universities and small liberal arts
colleges. Explore them all, this is your time to do so. Keep an open mind! Just because you haven't initially heard of it or if its not a
"bumper sticker" college, don't rule it out. There are over 3,000 colleges and universities out there- take the time to give some of them a
shot.
7) Use your summers wisely. Pr ogr ams to for eign countr ies or exotic ser vice tr ips ar e gr eat. But wor king at Subway as a
sandwich artist all summer is great also. So is coaching a local youth sports team. Summers may be for taking a class at a community
college.
8) Read books. Read the news on line. Watch documentar ies. Read mor e books. Know cur r ent events. Know what is going on in
the world. Be a conversationalist.
9) Participate in a few extra curricular things you love. Find your passion and stick with it.
10) Stay out of trouble. Be smar t people. Academic dishonesty, dr inking at Homecoming, etc., someone is going to hear about it
if it happens. Just be smart and make good decisions.
11) Languages are important. Better to take a for eign language with extr a cr edit then to be an office aide.
12) Be careful with your internet presence. Not as much as a pr oblem anymor e, but just Tweet and post and Blog and Instar gam
in an appropriate manner.
13) Start visiting college soon! Take spr ing br eak or a few days off to do so. Summer is fine, but not the best time to see colleges.
Take a road trip to a school close by to you to get a feel for college campuses.
MHS College Fair
Wednesday, September 30
MHS Commons
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Buy your 2016 Hayu Saghalie yearbook for only
$55
Order by October 16, 2015
Now is a great opportunity to order your 2016 yearbook and guarantee that you will pay the lowest possible price. Members of the
2016 yearbook staff have already been hard at work putting together the graphic and visual style the book will follow, and setting a
thematic vision, and this yearbook promises to be a keepsake your child will treasure!
For a limited time you can buy the yearbook for $55, but later in the fall the price will be raised to $65.
Make sure your student doesn’t miss out, so purchase your yearbook today!!
You may purchase your yearbook before the school year begins in the main office of the high school or before school at the
activity window beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10 -October 16. You may also mail checks at this time to:
Mrs. Becky Brekke, ASB Financial Secretary
Monroe High School
17001 Tester Road
Monroe, WA 98272
To order your yearbook, please complete the following information:
Student Name ___________________________________________ Grade _______
Address _____________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip
_______________________________________________________
I have enclosed a check for $ _______.
Return this order form with a check for the amount shown below to Monroe High School.
Please make your check out to Monroe High School Yearbook.
Yearbooks may also be bought through online payments on the district website using
your family access user name and password. There is a $2.50 service charge.
Suggested School Supply List
High School (grades 9-12)
Backpack or book bag
2 inch 3-ring Binder and Index Dividers for each subject
Pencil Pouch for pens, pencils etc. to fit in binder
Notebook Paper – college rule, 3-hole punched
Spiral Notebooks (8 ½ x 11 college ruled)
#2 Pencils
Pens – black or blue and red
Highlighters
Eraser
Ruler with both metric and standard
Flash drive* (1 GB minimum suggested)
Headphones (in-ear or headsets)
Community Supplies: In addion to the grade level list each student may bring 1 box of facial ssues to school to be donated to
the classroom.
* Inexpensive 1 GB flash drives available at local discount stores
Attention Bearcats!
xPizza
xEspresso and Yoguccino
xSnacks
xT-shirts & Sweatshirts
xHeadbands & Hats
xCar Window clings &
Magnets
xLanyards
xSpecial orders available
Spirit
The Market is the
Gear &
student store for
Monroe High School. Goodies
It is staffed by
Advance Marketing
Management Students.
Sales proceeds benefit
DECA and Marketing
Co-curricular activities.
the Market
Open before
school and at
lunch. Look for
Located near the Main us at the home
football games!
entrance to Monroe
We have your
High School just
before the Commons spirit gear!
Online Payments
Want to pay for the Yearbook online?
ASB card?
Other school related items?
Our Online Payment option is a great way
to pay for most of the items related to
school and school activities. Just go to our
main website (www.monroe.wednet.edu)
click on Online payments in the left hand
menu and follow with your family access
username and password. There will be a
convenience fee for online purchases.
If you do not have a family access
username/password, you can apply for one
using that same left hand menu—click on
Family Access, then Apply Here.
Tel: 360-804-4536
Bearcat Pride
Welcome back, Bearcat families! This month is an exciting time for students transitioning to high school, both new and
returning – but we’d like to help parents too! Our featured speakers at this month’s BCP meeting are Emily Felt,
Monroe Public Library’s teen librarian, and MHS’s own librarian, Brian Saulsman. Both these individuals are great
resources, and so willing to help our students. Did you know the library offers 70 free pages of black and white
printing per week? And a quiet room that can be reserved for 2 hour time blocks? Live online tutors? SAT/
PSAT prep and skill building? The library also offers free WiFi, free music downloads, and free online
language courses. Brian works with Emily to ensure that our public library and our school library have the
best resources available to help our students succeed. Please plan to join us at 7:00 pm on September 9 to hear how
they can help your student. They’re happy to answer any questions you may have too.
If you plan to pay a visit to the concessions stands this year, please make sure to see all the new spirit items we’re
selling -- MHS lanyards, seat cushions, Bearcat lip balm, and Bearcat stickers! The proceeds of these items go toward
our grants and scholarship fund, and promote school spirit at the same time! While at the concessions, talk with some
of our volunteers to see if working at the concessions stands would be something you’d like to do too. We always
welcome enthusiastic volunteers! Please contact Jenn at fourgalsandatrucker@gmail.com for more information or to
sign up.
We’re also attaching a membership form to this newsletter as well. One of the easiest ways to stay apprised of our
activities is by joining Bearcat Pride Parent/Teacher Group. The nominal membership fee furthers our reach again by
way of grants and scholarships – all of which go directly to our staff and students.
Please plan to join us for our Bearcat Pride meetings the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Again, our next meeting is
September 9 at 7:00 pm in the MHS teachers’ lounge. You can also ind us on Facebook at Bearcat Pride
Parent Teacher Group, or parents-MHS@monroe.wednet.edu.
M O N RO E
HIGH
SCHOOL
17001 Tester Road
Monroe WA 98272
Home of the Bearcats
We’re on the Web!
www.monroe.wednet.edu
To Parent/Guardian of:
How to reach us:
Main Office:............................................................................ 360-804-4500
24-Hour Attendance Hotline ............................................ 360-804-4501
Athletic Secretary................................................................. 360-804-4511
Counseling ............................................................................. 360-804-4503
Careers/Scholarships ........................................................... 360-804-4534
Nurse ...................................................................................... 360-804-4532
Principal’s Office ................................................................... 360-804-4502
ASB/Financial ......................................................................... 360-804-4513
Fax ........................................................................................... 360-804-4699
Transportation ...................................................................... 360-804-2650
The Mission…
We, at MHS, integrate the nine
characteristics of high performing
schools to ensure an environment in
which communication, achievement
and learning will thrive.
La oficina de
asistencia puede
interpretar
mensajes en
espanol. Porfavor
llame 360-804-4501
y empuje #2
The Vision…
We, at MHS, are dedicated to creating,
maintaining, and improving a
professional and inclusive environment
in which communication, achievement,
and learning will thrive.