MRHS FRIDAY FOCUS Weekly Newsletter
MRHS VOICE: Vision of Innovation, Creativity & Excellence
7th Edition: 10.24.2014
Building our School of the Future
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. We'd like to share this weekly newsletter to keep families abreast of the amazing happenings at our school and pass on important information that will allow parents & students to maintain a positive connection with our school. Please visit our blog at www.monomoyrhs.blogspot.com & our website at www.monomoy.edu
Focus: Excellence in Education at MRHS
Breakfast of Excellence 10.31.14
The MRHS school family is extremely proud of our students and would like to honor their achievements and celebrate their accomplishments. We will be hosting Monomoy’s first Breakfast of Excellence on October 31, 2014 at 8:30am to honor all current students (& parents) who have achieved a perfect score on MCAS (we have 5!), scored a 4 or 5 on AP exam (we have 9!), received the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship (we have 27!) and the winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Award. We invite the media-please RSVP.
Click the following link to see our honorees: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1775Jjw9aZ-Z4_mVHDounyHLytrRbHJQLzN8Uxn18eNE/edit?usp=sharing
Staff Excellence
Congratulations to Mr. Rich Houston has been nominated by the National Society of High School Scholars as a candidate for "Educator of the Year", which is presented annually to an exemplary educator who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to preparing students for success in college and in life. Good luck Mr. Houston-you have our vote!
Congratulations to Ms. Janis McGrory for being the recipient of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Alumni Association 2014 Humanitarian Award. The award honors Ms. McGrory's commitment and dedication to fighting the war against drug abuse.
Ms. Tina Rigas recently served on a New England Association of Schools and Colleges evaluation visit to West Springfield High School. Tina was an integral member of a team of sixteen educators chaired by Paul Mangelinkx (former legendary CHS Principal) who has assigned her to standard seven - Community Resources for Learning. The team spent four days at the school interviewing teachers, meeting with students, parents, administrators, support staff, shadowing students, etc. and by Wednesday, completed a report addressing the degree to which the school is meeting the standards established by the Association's Commission on Public Secondary Schools. Tina returned to Monomoy on Thursday, no doubt worn out but rewarded for having such a great professional development opportunity in collaboration with colleagues from around the New England region.
Congratulations to Mr. Jon Bennett, who was honored on 10/20/14 at the MA Model Institute Workshop by the Massachusetts School Counselor Association for successfully completing a Massachusetts Accountability Report Card (MARC jr) with distinction-High Honors- demonstrating exceptional commitment to the implementation of the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling and success for all students.
Dr. Helen O’Donnell, Director MA Model Institute and Mr. David Elsner, MARC Committee Chair were on hand to celebrate this accomplishment at the Hilton in Leominster, MA.
Mr. Bennett has worked to develop professionally with MASCA over the last 12 years to help bring the best possible guidance and counseling services for ALL Monomoy students.
Congratulations to Mr. Paul (Spanky) Demanche nominated by his peers as the recipient of the Ted Damko award. The recipient is an Athletic Director who has made significant contributions to the school, league district and state.
Staff Professional Development:
A large part of our district focus is on best practice and continued professional development for our educators. On January 10 of this year, our staff development emphasized the use of technology. Thank you to MRHS's amazing educators who facilitated professional development sessions!
- Lisa Graham - Aspen Software use for teachers-creating pages and online quizzes
- John Anderson- Using online Digital Text
- Rachel Barnes- Grading/Commenting using Google Docs
- Jim Birchfield - Promethean Board use
- Bill Burkhead - Twitter for Educators
Other district educators who led sessions included: Matt Barnes, Darlene Coy, Dawn King, and Robin Millen
We are ALL Learners!
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
On Wednesday, October 22nd, MRHS students, grades 8-12, participated in an ANONYMOUS survey about health behavior. The ANONYMOUS information will be used to develop better health education and outreach for young people.
Data will be collected from survey results and information gathered will be used to develop and expand substance abuse prevention efforts in the towns of Harwich and Chatham, as well as guide decisions we make in our school moving forward. Thank you students!
Volunteers Clean Up
Monomoy Regional High School students participated in the annual Coastsweep cleanup of local beaches. The Friends of Pleasant Bay sponsored the students efforts at Bay Road Beach in Harwich. Pictured in photo are (l-r) history teacher Mr. Houston, 9th grader Emma Norcott, and senior Abby Burke with Pleasant Bay in the background.
Homecoming Court
King - Sean Andreasson - Queen Maina Zou
Prince Nick Norcott - Princess - Lily Gorman
Duke: Alec Pavlakis - Duchess: Samantha MacDonald
Lord: NMathan Amaker - Lady : Madison Leonard
Homecoming King & Queen
5 Quick Things
Mr. Gifford: Guidance Department
1. I love to travel, and have been to Brazil, Mexico, The Bahamas, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and China.
2. The Gifford family settled on Cape Cod in the early 1600’s. The land that is now Brooks Park in Harwich was Sydney Brooks Gifford’s cow pasture.
3. My wife Nancy Gifford taught kindergarten and 7th grade science in Harwich before merging into Monomoy. Many of the students here know her, and we can’t go anywhere around Harwich without someone yelling out “Mrs. Gifford!”
4. I’m a certified archery instructor, and I hope to get an archery club started here in the spring.
5. I’m a published author. My book “MacMillan Wharf” is a mystery novel set in Provincetown.
American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk in Barnstable
Members of MRHS' Young Women's Club with a couple of male guests. Sharon Gleason and Ms. Forte-Doyle are co-advisors; Gabby Hurley is the groups "Spirit Queen."
MRHS raised $133 dollars for the walk!
New Car!
New Traditions Being Built Daily at MRHS!
2nd Annual Monomoy Elementary School Pasta Dinner & Flag Football Game Huge Hit
Guest Speaker Ellen Corindia Offers a Message of Courage
Ellen Corindia, a woman living with long-term A.L.S., visited classes at Monomoy Reg. H.S. Mrs. Doyle’s American Literature II class invited Ms. Corindia in connection with their study of Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Other classes, such as Mrs. Aschettino’s Journalism students and Ms. Yarnall’s Phys.Ed./Health students, also came to Ms. Corindia’s presentation. MRHS raised $300 for the A.L.S. Family Charitable Foundation! As Ms. Corindia is an active representative of the Foundation, the donation was presented to her at the end of her visit. Thank you, MRHS, for your generosity, and thank you, Ellen!!!
School Lunch Schedule for October
Follow MRHS on Twitter!
Website: https://twitter.com/MonomoyRHS
Twitter: @Monomoyrhs
Guidance Corner:
Important Announcements:
November 6th is the deadline for registering for the December 6th SAT (the only test location is D-Y).
1st Quarter Grades close on November 6th with Report Cards going home on November 14th.
College Visits @MRHS:
October 27:- 9:30 - Fitchburg College
- 10:30- Bryant University
- 1pm- UMASS Dartmouth
October 28:
- 11:30 - University of Vermont
- 11am - Salem State
- 10am - Endicott College
Athletic Department Update: Winter Sign Ups
A reminder that our Familyid site is now open for prospective Winter Athletes. Parents and students are asked to register at www.familyid.com
Congratulations to Coach Poorer and our Field Hockey team for qualifying for the State Tournament once again this fall.
Check out the new Library Website!
The library website is up! Make sure to take a look to see our awesome digital collection, which includes databases provided through state and federal funding as well as an eBook reference collection of 350 titles purchased for Monomoy Regional High School with funds from the Elizabeth Reynard Book Fund. The site is accessed through the MRHS website under the Media Center link, or directly via https://sites.google.com/a/monomoy.edu/monomoy-library/.