Monomoy Regional High School
Message from Principal Burkhead
Welcome Back!
We are excited to start the 2018-19 school year and look forward to welcoming our students back on September 4th. We pride ourselves in the belief that OUR school is "A Home Away From Home." Our school is a safe, caring, exciting and positive place for our students, families, community members, faculty, and staff.
As proud members of the Monomoy family, we enter into our 5th year as a highly successful school on the move. I am excited to see everyone and look forward to another amazing and successful year!
Over the past four years, we have worked extremely hard developing a philosophy and collective commitment that our school is our "Home Away from Home." Our beliefs and actions support a safe, welcoming and nurturing learning environment - "You Are Important" at Monomoy Regional High School!
Last year our entire school community united behind a set of agreed-upon core family values (see above) to live and learn by. Our school will continue to thrive as we place a strong emphasis on the value of each individual in our school family. This includes students, staff, parents/guardians, community members, and visitors. This year our theme will focus on personal and school growth and improvement. The idea is that if each of us pushes ourself to be the best and work to improve and grow socially, emotionally and academically, our school community will be a better place to be = "Better U. Better Us."
I look forward to meeting you personally in the upcoming year and I am excited for our students to fill our classrooms with some of the most dedicated, hardworking and compassionate educators and support staff in the state.
William Burkhead
Principal
Starting the Year: Important Events & Notices
Start of School Information:
Start Time Information:
School will start for students on Tuesday, September 4, at 8:45 am. The building will open daily at 7:30 am, with the library and common areas open for students who arrive early. Breakfast is offered daily beginning at 8 am. The school day ends at 3:15, except on “early release” days beginning September 13. Dismissal on “early release” days will be 2:35 pm. To extend our learning opportunities for students we will be offering several clubs & activities for students to join, with late buses available-details to come.
Student Drop Off/Pick Up:
All student drop off and pick up will occur at the main school entrance in front of the building. We ask that you stay in the left lane when entering from Oak Street to allow for bus access to the rear of the building. ALL drop off and pick up of students should occur curbside to ensure the safety of our students from passing cars in the left lane. Buses will drop students off at the "Community Entrance" at the rear of the building.
Student/Parent Handbook
Contact Information:
It is important we have the most recent contact information to best communicate with home. Please check your contact information on Aspen and contact Ms. Casey (bcasey@ monomoy.edu) in our guidance office with any changes.
Student Schedules:
Student Schedules are now accessible on Aspen. Our guidance team is available to work with anyone who needs to make schedule adjustments before the school year starts.
Student parking:
Students will be able to park on the side lot adjacent to Whitehouse field and enter through the side doors of the school until 9am. Seniors in good standing will have the privilege of parking in the rear lot if they choose.
Curriculum Night: September 26, 2018 6:30-8:30pm *HS Auditorium
One of the most effective ways to promote student growth academically, behaviorally, and socially is through a partnership that bridges the school and home together. Curriculum Night provides an opportunity for parents to meet school personnel, learn about school-wide and course expectations and ask questions. See you there!
School Pictures:
School pictures will be taken on September 12. All students must have their picture taken for ID purposes. Information will be distributed to students interesting in purchasing a photo package.
Thank you!
Please contact us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to providing your child with the highest caliber education and learning experience.
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS
Last year we found that the first few weeks of Jawsome (our academic/enrichment lunch hour) created crowded hallways and an ineffective use of time as students were not yet receiving grades and therefore not in need of academic support. So, we will be following this schedule (link below) to start the school year through 9.14.18. This will allow teachers and students time to connect, build relationships and have a strong foundation academically to begin the school year. Beginning September 17, 2018 we will transition to our new version of academic support & enrichment (Jawsome 2.0). We will discuss the details of Jawsome 2.0 with students at Town Hall meetings the first week back. During this time students will eat lunch in the cafeteria & outside seating in back of the cafeteria.
**Our senior privilege (for grade 12 students only) for this schedule will allow all seniors in good standing the opportunity to eat lunch at the tables outside the cafeteria, library and team rooms**
Last year we had several conversations with our students, staff and school community regarding the impact of cell phones on learning. We determined that we needed a specific policy clarifying the appropriate use of cell phones to ensure a safe and thriving learning culture in our school. This policy was successfully piloted in many of our classrooms last year. This policy has been approved by the MRSD and is in our student/family handbook.
MRHS Cell Phone Policy:
All student cell phones will be collected upon student entry into a classroom, other instructional areas, as well as the Detention Room. Cell phones will also be collected in the Main Office if a student has been sent out of a classroom due to inappropriate behavior. Teachers/staff will have a pre-determined and consistent method of cell phone collection/storage. A common method is the use of a hanging caddy. At the conclusion of class/detention/office stay, students may retrieve their phones as they exit the room.
Cell phones may be used during a student`s lunch period, in the hallway between classes or in a classroom for educational purposes as directed by a staff member. Inappropriate use of a cell phone may result in confiscation and detention(s), parent pick-up of phone for multiple infractions.
Parents Wanted! School Advisory Council
We look to build a strong school advisory council this year to guide our important work. A school council is a representative, school building-based committee that meets quarterly and is composed of the principal, parents, teachers, community members and students. School councils are to assist principals in:
1. Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
2. Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
3. Reviewing the annual school building budget
4. Formulating a school improvement plan
5. Review the student handbook
If you are interested please send an email message principal Burkhead at bburkhead@monomoy.edu indicating your interest in serving on the school council.
Town Hall Meetings
Please help us welcome a very talented and passionate group of staff members to the MRHS family this year.
Call to Action
We need your help ensuring that our students are in school and on time. Our track record as a school has not been great and will need to improve. Our average daily attendance has risen over the course of the last 3 years, but is still below the state average. More concerning, is our "chronically absent" (absent 18 or more days in a school year, or 10%) number hit 20.7% in 2016.17 compared to only 13.5% for the state.
We take great pride in our school and are consistently working to be the best in MA. We have a truly remarkable relationship between home and school and look to work with students and their families on emphasizing the importance of strong daily attendance at school. This also means arriving on time.
Thank you in advance for your assistance
Bill Burkhead
Principal
Moving our school from Good to GREAT!
Our school vision is guided by our school improvement plan. A comprehensive road map developed by our School Council (parents, students, teachers, community members & administration) and approved by our Superintendent and School Committee.
We are proud to share our 2018-2021 plan with you so you are comfortable understanding the direction of our great school.