Bearcat Necessities 4/16/2021
Monroe High School - 17001 Tester Road, Monroe, WA 98272
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Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bearcat Students and Families!
We are back! I’ve been waiting 13 months to say that :o). After all of the months of distance learning and planning to get our kids back to MHS, this week we finally did and we couldn’t be more proud and excited to have our kids learning in-person here at MHS.
Overall it was actually a fairly uneventful return in terms of things not going well. As anyone might expect, we had a few hiccups here and there, but our after-school debrief sessions as a staff and administrative team helped us iron out those kinks so things go more smoothly each and every day. The biggest reminders for students every day will continue to be all of the same ones we need to be consistent with to be safe … keep your mask on, wash your hands often, don’t come to school if you feel sick, and continue to stay socially distanced. Our students did a great job with those things this week and our entire staff will continue to be a broken record every day on those items so that we can stay “back” here at MHS.
Please thank your students for showing up this week and doing a great job to follow all of the routines and procedures in place. Over the next few weeks things will continue to migrate towards a normal feel here in the building. Students were definitely a little subdued these first few days, but we know they will continue to warm up as things move forward. Our staff did a nice job of creating a soft land for students, providing time and space for them to process the past 13 months and begin to get themselves in an improved state of mind for learning. As always, we will continue to encourage our students to let us know what they need to feel supported and empowered to finish the 20-21 school year strong.
Thank you once again to our parents and families for walking beside us as we worked together to get our students back to school. Your questions, concerns, support and encouragement mean more to us than can be communicated in a newsletter. We appreciate you and look forward to the next couple of months of school here at MHS. GO BEARCATS!
From Asst. Principal Shannon Tarrach
Hello Bearcat Families:
It is with a bittersweet feeling I share that as of July 1st, I will be leaving my position as Assistant Principal at Monroe High School to take on a new role as the Director of Career and College Readiness for the Monroe School District. As a former Career and Technical Education teacher and a Bearcat Alumni, this is truly a lifelong dream fulfilled. I am excited to tackle new challenges and seek out additional opportunities for all Monroe students. My time as an Assistant Principal at MHS has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career and truly the most unique thanks to the Covid-19 Pandemic. It was truly an honor to return to my alma mater and hometown in service to the community that fostered my own early development. I have loved working with both our students and families as they move through their own high school journey. A bit wistfully, I leave this work to the talented and caring MHS staff as I move into the next phase of my own career. Since in my case, the phrase ‘once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat’ rings very true, while my role will change I will continue to be forever cheering on all of those who walk these halls. Thank you for the privilege of working with you and your students!
-Shannon Tarrach (‘nee Boyle) Class of ‘93
From the Librarian
This message is for any student that needs to exchange their chrome-book because of damage, or because it is not working properly. On Monday, 4/19 or Tuesday 4/20 please bring the chrome-book and charger you now have to the library. If you do not bring your chrome-book AND charger you will not be allowed to get a new chrome-book.
New from Counseling
Free Meal Program Update
FREE MEALS CONTINUE FOR ALL STUDENTS
Did you know we are still offering FREE meals for all students, even when they are attending in-person?!
Meals for students in grades 6-12 are a combination of in school service and take-home meals. On the days they attend in-person, students are offered a free sack lunch to be eaten at school. They also have an opportunity to receive free take-home meals at the end of their day, which includes breakfasts and lunches for the days that they will be remote learning.
We know that children learn better when they have had a meal. Please encourage your student to take advantage of the free meals both in school and take-home! We will continue offering free meals through the rest of this school year!
MHS Hybrid Schedule
Class of 2021
Our Class of 2021 parent meeting is this coming Wednesday the 21st at 7pm. You can access that meeting using the link below. We will be sharing the details about graduation and all the other end of year events happening for your graduates. Hope you can join us.
https://monroe-wednet.zoom.us/j/84322180590
The recording for the senior student meeting is still being worked on and will be posted to the website soon. Seniors were sent an email and google survey (to their student accounts) this week. If you're senior is a running start student it is imperative they make sure they're checking their school emails as important information is shared with students via their school email accounts.
Prevention for Parents
Preventing Teen Alcohol Use:
What you're Drinking vs. What You're Thinking
April is alcohol awareness month, and a great time to talk about alcohol with your child! As kids return to school, they may be spending more time with their peers and encounter situations where alcohol is present. We know most teens choose not to use alcohol regularly, but when they are in a social situation after a challenging year without much social interaction, they may be tempted to use.
Often times teens use alcohol to fit in at social events because they get bombarded with the idea that alcohol makes you more social, easygoing, or less awkward. We've all seen this idea depicted in TV shows, movies, songs, and other media. What your teen may not have heard is that alcohol doesn't actually affect social behaviors, if we're just talking about the chemical structure.
The behaviors we see depicted in media (or in our own lives) are a result of our expectations of what will happen if we drink alcohol. In other words, it is a social construct that we are more social, likable, or less awkward when we drink alcohol. This information comes to us from a study done at the University of Washington- check out this short video to learn more.
Certainly we are affected by alcohol- the clumsiness, slower reflexes, and tiredness are a result of alcohol in our brain- but if your child thinks alcohol will make them more likeable at a party, they are misinformed.
This is important because if your child's goal is to feel more comfortable in social situations, they should know they have better options than alcohol use.
Here are some tips to share with your teen for handling social situations:
- Take a buddy to an event so you're not alone
- Hold a cup/drink with something in it other than alcohol (even if others are drinking alcohol)
- Do a mindfulness meditation before a date/party to calm your nerves
- Think about some things you can talk about before you go
BAR Lab Experiment- Dr. Jason Kilmer from the University of Washington on Youtube
Parking on Campus
MHS Athletics News
Registration for Winter Sports
Please make sure you're starting on the registration process for Winter Sports. To be eligible for first day of practices on May 3rd, students and families must have the process completed by 11:00am on Friday, April 30th. You can find more information about the MHS Athletics Registration process on our website and via this link:
MHS Athletics Registration 2020-21
Winter sports offerings include:
Boys Basketball
Boys Swim/Dive
Boys Wrestling
Competition Cheer
Competition Dance
Girls Basketball
Girls Wrestling
Gymnastics
If you need any help please contact the Athletics Office at 360-804-4511.
Bearcat Pride
Bearcat Pride is a volunteer organization that supports teachers and sports activities through concession sales. Concession sales are not happening this year, but by the fall we hope to be back in business. If you’re looking to support MHS, we could use you! Please fill out the Google form below and join Bearcat Pride for the 2021-2022 school year. We are always looking for new and creative ways to support the high school. We would love to hear from you. Click on the link below, fill in a few questions and be added to our email list.
https://forms.gle/2LM5MNuyhmpk9a7t8
We currently have board positions open. If interested please email us at
parents-mhs@monroe.wednet.edu and let us know what you would like to do.
Current Board Members:
Seanna Sunde-President
Sara Kuntz & Alison Hurley-Co Vice President
Tiffany Martin-Treasurer
Emily Miller-Secretary
Our next board meeting:
Date: May 12, 2021
Time: 7:00 pm
Virtual: Link will be provided closer to date
Bearcat Band Boosters
MHS band Boosters has board positions open
Co-President
VP
Co-Secretary
Co-treasurer
Uniform coordinator.
Questions and interest can be sent to bearcatbandboosters@gmail.com
As always we want to hear from you! Do you have ideas? Questions? Concerns? Let us know.
You can find us here….
Facebook:
@Monroe Bearcat Pride Parent Teacher Group
Email:
Counseling Corner
TRANSCRIPTS: Do you need a transcript for your college applications? You can request them from Ms. Hutson in the Counseling Center at hutsonh@monroe.wednet.edu. If you have applied through the Coalition Application or Common Application your counselor will send those through those application processes.
APPOINTMENTS: If you need an appointment with your counselor you can email them directly or Ms. Hutson. They can meet through zoom or a phone call.
RUNNING START
Are you in 10th or 11th grade? Are you looking to earn both High School AND college credit? Explore your options through Running Start. Local community colleges have information sessions coming up soon. Check their websites for more information:
Everett Community College: https://www.everettcc.edu/enrollment/hs-programs/running-start/
MHS Career & College Center
Where Are You At In The Career & College Process? Let's Talk!
Make An Appointment with the MHS Career & College Ready Specialist
Click to schedule an appointment here.
Other Helpful Resources
Career & College Events & Opportunities
Local Jobs & Volunteering Opportunities
SENIOR $CHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT$
A Scholarship is financial support awarded to a student, based on a variety of criteria. Scholarships and grants are funds for college that do not need to be paid back. Sounds great right! Learn more here.
$500.00-$1,000.00 The PB&J Scholarship is for students who have experienced personal challenges that may not have allowed them to perform well academically, but who still have the drive to succeed. Applicants will be evaluated based on their essay and letters of recommendation; there is no GPA requirement. Please note: letters of recommendation must directly reference the student’s challenges. If the applicant does not wish to share their challenges with their recommender, then the recommendation must reference the student’s personal character.
Deadline 5/31
Looking For A Job After Graduation?
Take a look at local jobs opportunities here.
CLASS of 2021 - SHOW US YOUR SCHOLARSHIP MONEY!
Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program or P-EBT.
Due to COVID-19 school closures, families enrolled in school may be eligible to get help with food benefits. These food benefits are called Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program or P-EBT.
School Offices
Our school office remains closed to the general public. We recognize there are needs that require in-person meetings. On-site visits are allowed by appointment only and require a
pre-scheduled meeting. If you are in need of an in-person meeting, please contact the Main Office by calling 360-804-4500 Option #9 to schedule. All visitors will be required to answer a set of questions to ensure it is safe to have them on campus. For their appointment, visitors are required to wear a cloth mask and are required to sign in and out while on campus.
Who's Who at MHS
Brett Wille- willeb@monroe.wednet.edu
Principal
Shannon Tarrach - tarrachs@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal
Jeannette Siemers - siemersj@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Hugo Molina - molinah@monroe.wednet.edu
Assistant Principal
Melissa Myers - myersme@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Manager - 360-804-4502
Oscar Hanson - hansono@monroe.wednet.edu
Main Line - Front Desk - (360) 804-4500
Janet Smith -smithja@monroe.wednet.edu
Attendance -(360) 804-4501
Jacci Rasmussen - rasmussenj@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Financial Office/ASB - (360) 804-4513
Tara Weyrick- weyrickt@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Athletics - (360) 804-4511
Denise Palmer - palmerd@monroe.wednet.edu
Registrar - (360) 804-4524
Helen Hutson - hutsonh@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Counseling - (360) 804-4520
Sarah Tucker - tuckers@monroe.wednet.edu
Office Support - Counseling - (360) 804-4503
Michelle Dickinson - dickinsonm@monroe.wednet.edu
Career & College Ready Specialist - Career Center - (360) 804-4507
Geneva Padilla - padillag@monroe.wednet.edu
Health Room RN/ (360) 804-4532