Bearcat Necessities 1/14/2022
Monroe High School - 17001 Tester Road, Monroe, WA 98272
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MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL, BRETT WILLE
Happy Friday MHS!
I wanted to express our sincere gratitude for your grace and understanding with regards to the decision to close MHS for the past 2 days. It was an extremely challenging decision, one we tried hard to avoid, but one that in the end we determined was the best decision for the safety of our students and staff. We’re hopeful that the 2 day closure and the long 3 day weekend will give our school community the reset we needed to slow the transmission rate that we were seeing as we track our Covid data from day to day, both with students testing positive for Covid and the students identified as close contacts. We’re fortunate to have a strong partnership with the Snohomish County Health Department in these situations and, although it was a less than ideal circumstance this week, we’re confident that it was the right decision and we look forward to seeing our students back here at MHS next Tuesday! As always, and especially with the highly contagious Omicron variant, please keep your student(s) home if they are experiencing any symptoms at all.
On another note, I hope you enjoy the long 3-day weekend and the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Our BSU (Black Student Union) has been hard at work the past couple of weeks, creating a thoughtful and engaging learning experience for all of our students and staff that we will engage with as a school community next week in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His life, his leadership and his values provide us with a tremendous example that we can use and lean on as we work to create a more inclusive MHS … a school where all students feel valued and where all students know that they belong. His courage, humility, service, willingness to forgive, and commitment to nonviolence … I can’t think of a stronger set of core values and guiding principles from which to rebuild the school we are envisioning together. We’re excited for that school-wide learning next week and the opportunity we have to continue to take small steps forward, together, in creating a better MHS. Using the life and the example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr will be such a great point of reflection for us all … thank you to our BSU for your above and beyond effort to make this happen for us.
Have a great 3 day weekend MHS … we’ll see our students back on Tuesday!
SAVE THE DATE
Please join our Monroe High School virtual Principal Chat meeting.
Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 am.
It is important to get many families involved and it is fun to see how we support the school! Given these unpredictable times, we need you now more than ever to support our students, teachers and staff. Please tune into the meeting to see how you can help. Your voice matters!
Please cut and paste the following Zoom link into your browser:
Announcement from or MHS Key Club
Key Club needs your help. We need donations to help people experiencing homelessness during the cold winter months. Through the whole month of January we will be accepting these donations in boxes located in students' English classrooms. Students can scan the QR code for the flyer from the boxes placed in their English classrooms for a full list of things you can donate or click on the PDF attachment
MHS STUDENTS.....LETS LOOK FOR THOSE BOOKS
From the MHS Finance Office:
Have you noticed old textbooks around your home? Please have your students return these as they are listed as fines on their student accounts. To view your student's fines please visit: https://wa-monroe.intouchreceipting.com/
For specific questions or to make payment arrangements please reach out to Ms. Rasmussen at rasmussenj@monroe.wednet.edu. Credit card payments may be made online at https://wa-monroe.intouchreceipting.com/. Cash or Check payments may be made in person at MHS.
Honor Roll for MSD Employees...WHAT?
Do you know a Monroe School District employee who deserves some much-needed recognition?
Monroe School District has launched a new employee recognition program, called the MSD Employee Honor Roll! This program is aimed at recognizing Monroe School District employees for exemplifying the district’s commitment and shared values through their service to our students, staff, families, and/or community.
Supervisors, fellow employees, parents and community members are encouraged to nominate ANY staff member for exemplifying any of the following:
Providing engaging learning opportunities through powerful instruction
Providing students with equitable access to learning and opportunities based on their unique, individual needs
Holding students to high standards
Using innovation to provide educational choice
Recognizing, honoring and building upon students’ strengths and passions
Engaging families and the community in the learning process
Preparing all students for college, careers and life beyond graduation
All nominees will be recognized, but only one in each employee category will be selected each month as the MSD Employee Honor Roll award recipients. Employee categories include:
Certificated (teachers, counselors, psychologists, etc)
Classified (paraeducators, nurses, office staff, bus drivers, food service, custodial, technology, maintenance, etc)
Substitutes and coaches
Administrators (Principals, assistant principals, directors, executive staff)
SO PROUD OF OUR BOLD BEARCATS!!!!!
Thank you Andrew Jarosky for being considerate of others. Andrew made sure another person would be safe by double-checking that a snack was safe to open in class. Thank you for your kindness and consideration, Andrew!
Jack Irwin was incredibly considerate, after learning about Tourettes Syndrome, by asking what students in a class can do to support their peers with this diagnosis.
Connor Dayley for acting fast during an emergency situation in class last week.
Chaydan Morgan has been working so hard in math class. He participates in the discussions to help classmates when they get stuck.
Mateo Bell-Loffredo is an asset to math class. He keeps everyone thinking and discussions rolling.
Ethan Anger for helping to look out for and take care of his table partner in class when they were having a health situation!
Mason Edwards for being a valuable support person to help another student in photography.
Raleigh Ulle .has consistent insightful contributions to classroom discussions and helpful to fellow students in US History.
My whole bearcat academy 7th period class The last couple weeks have been bananas, but they have shown me that they've been ready to learn and have brought a lot of joy to my day with their enthusiasm for life and willingness to try hard things.
Reanna Hahn- Thank you for always being willing to help organize the classroom and ensure our classroom calculators are put away before leaving for the day.
Natysia Might - Your willingness to work with your peer to ensure she was not working alone was very appreciated.
Yareli Cordova - She is always willing to help her peers understand the math concepts and is a positive role model for her classmates.
Pursuit Program
Edmonds Community College Pursuit Lab
Fall Online Session begins Oct. 25th! Students are still encouraged to apply.
Gain workplace readiness and work-based learning experiences
Do you have a documented disability and want to pursue your post-secondary goals? In this chapter filled with many unknowns, the Pursuit Lab is on a mission to bring college access and workplace readiness. We are a pre-employment transition service for students transitioning out of high school or looking for jobs/careers. We want you to join us!
In partnership with Washington’s Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Pursuit’s Workplace Readiness course seeks to help students to discover strengths, to prepare for jobs, and reach educational goals.
Program requirements:
Must be 16 or older and motivated to pursue more education, a job, and/or discovering their dependable strengths. 16-21 year old students are offered this opportunity for free.*
Must be able to communicate in verbal/written English and can function independently without constant support on campus (unless it is ASL interpreter).
Have (had) a documented disability could qualify for this support class (IEP, 504, or documented through SSD here on campus)!
Must be able to access an online class and be capable of independent management between 1-3 hours transportation and are committed to attending class meeting times, Monday through Thursday, for one to three hours for an online class
Willing to be a part of a fun and supportive community of peers building independence through job and college exploration and progress.
*Limited space available for 22+ with a class fee
Fill out a pre-registration to reserve your spot!
WINTER SESSION- virtual or in-person to be determined
Jan. 10-March 17, (2 classes) Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 2:30-4 p.m.
Registration Steps
After you finish this pre-registration process, you will need to fill out the Pre-employment Transition Service Consent form which will take some time so please do this as soon as possible. See Jill Vandemoortele in counseling for this form or reach her at VandemoorteleJ@monroe.wednet.edu or 360-804-4521.
Section 2 will need to be filled out and signed by a High School/Transition Program contact (anyone on the student's IEP team that has knowledge of his/her/their disability). If the student has graduated from high school and is NOT a part of a transition program, they can leave Section 2 blank and make a note in the email (to pursuit@edcc.edu) of their graduation date and school.
Pre-employment Transition Service Consent form needs to be fully filled out form emailed to pursuit@edmonds.edu. We need section 2 fill out by a counselor or Special Education Teacher to verify your documentation of disability (see Jill Vandemoortelein counseling)
**NOTE: Electronic Signatures in the Print Name is acceptable as a signature. Please make sure the date on the entire form is dated for before the start date of the class. If you have questions please ask Diana George by reaching out to: pursuit@edmonds.edu
We will help you determine the correct paperwork and funding source. Please feel free to reach out to pursuit@edmonds.edu or 425.640.1684 with any questions about this.
If you have any questions, please contact the Pursuit Lab at 425- 640-1684 or pursuit@edcc.edu or Jill Vandemoortele at
Searching For Scholarships
Sno-Isle Application Opened January 13th - Now Is The Time To Apply
Boeing Spring Manufacturing Fellowship - 16 years old and up
Who's Who at MHS
Brett Wille- willeb@monroe.wednet.edu
Principal
Rachel Bleakney-Bailey - bleakneybaileyr@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal
Jennifer Murphy - murphyj@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal
Noah Wallace - wallacen@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal
Shannon Tarrach - tarrachs@monroe.wednet.edu
Director of College and Career Readiness - (360) 804-4508
Ashley Tuiasosopo - tuiasosopoa@monroe.wednet.edu
Athletic Director - 360-804-4542
Melissa Myers - myersme@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Manager - 360-804-4502
Oscar Hanson - hansono@monroe.wednet.edu
Main Line - Front Desk - (360) 804-4500
Rhoda Lochmann -lochmannr@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support -Attendance/Communications -(360) 804-4501
Jacci Rasmussen - rasmussenj@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Financial Office/ASB - (360) 804-4513
Sarah Tuckers- tuckerss@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Athletics - (360) 804-4511
Shannon Barksdale - barksdales@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - CTE - (360) 804-4512
Tammy Berreth - berretht@monroe.wednet.edu
Registrar - (360) 804-4524
Amber Mehta - mehtaa@monroe.wednet
Attendance Intervention Specialist - (360) 804-4518
Helen Hutson - hutsonh@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Counseling - (360) 804-4520
Michelle Dickinson - dickinsonm@monroe.wednet.edu
CTE Program Support Manager - (360) 804-4507
Geneva Padilla - padillag@monroe.wednet.edu
Health Room RN/ (360) 804-4532