
Husky Nation Highlights
Community Newsletter - September 17, 2023

Parent Conferences this Week! π«
- Please contact your child's teacher if you haven't scheduled a conference yet. Conferences may be in-person or on Zoom.
- Please note the following Minimum Days due to conferences: September 18th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd. September 20th will be a regular Wednesday dismissal.
- For in-person conferences, all adults are *required* to check-in to the Front Office to obtain a visitor badge before proceeding to your childβs classroom. Please be sure to bring current photo identification.
- Conferences are scheduled for 15 minutes. Please be prompt and mindful of time. If you need to continue a conference, please make arrangements to do so at a later date.
βοΈ PTA CORNER π
Reflections Arts Program π¨
Explore the arts and express yourself! This yearβs Reflections theme is βI am Hopeful Becauseβ¦β
Get creative and submit to one of the many categories including dance choreography, literature, photography, film production, music composition, and visual arts. All grades are welcome to submit. Please visit bit.ly/MHReflections for more details.
All participants with eligible entries will be entered into a raffle to win a $5 gift certificate for PTAβs Holiday Shop (to be held on December 14-15). In addition, all participants with eligible entries will receive a βSeeβs Candiesβ lollipop and a participation ribbon. All category winners in each division, receive a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award ribbon and award certificate, with the 1st place recipient receiving a marble plaque.
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 at 11:59PM.
Interested in volunteering as a judge? See the βUpcoming Volunteer Opportunitiesβ section below for details.
Spooky Bash β Planning Kickoff Meeting π
The first Spooky Bash Committee planning meeting will be held on Zoom this Monday, September 18 at 8PM. Join us if youβre interested in leading or helping with grade level fundraising booths, discussing activities, logistics, and all other Spooky planning!
To get connected, join us in planning, or obtain meeting details (including Zoom links), please see the βUpcoming Volunteer Opportunitiesβ section below for details.
Curious about what Spooky Bash is? Learn more by checking out our FAQ.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities π€
We are grateful for our volunteers. Here are some of our volunteer needs at this time:
Ongoing:
- Morning Valet (School) - mornings (7:30am-8:00am)
- Husky Pop-Up Store (School) - monthly at recess (9am-11am)
Email Ms. Chan (school counselor) if you are interested. - Spooky Bash Committee (PTA)
- Reflections Art Program Judges (PTA)
π ASB ANNOUNCEMENTS π’
Mr. Calvin Ly, Adviser
The Associated Student Body (ASB) oversees all fundraising and school activities at Monterey Highlands. The ASB Cabinet meets weekly on Fridays to review activity and fundraising requests.
Useful ASB Information:
- Parents or teachers interested in creating a fundraiser can complete this Google Form Link.
- Upcoming ASB Spirit Day: Wednesday, September 27, 2023: Dress Like a Staff Member
- ASB Cabinet also produces our monthly Wonderful Wednesday assembly. September's theme is Living Respectfully featuring 3rd Grade! Check out the first video below!
Upcoming Fundraisers π°
Benefitting the 8th Grade Class of 2024 Promotion Activities π
Use code 917987 for online/web orders
Wed 10/18 @ The Habit (Garfield/Main)
Habit: Print this flyer and scan when you pay
8th Grade Parent Meeting - 10.2.23 @ 6pm (Zoom)
Join us as we continue planning 8th Grade Promotion for the Class of 2024.
The meting will be held virtually at 6pm at this link: zoom.us/my/mh.principal
If you can't make it, don't worry! We will meet again soon to continue planning. Please email Mr. B if you are interested in working on the 8th Grade Parent Committee.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP β
Please RSVP if you plan to attend this meeting so we may prepare light refreshments.
You may use the Google Form link below to submit questions for Mr. Matsuo ahead of this meeting.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP
- Our special guest will be Mr. Keith Matsuo, Director of Construction for AUSD.
- Mr. Matsuo will provide updates on our current (and future) construction projects.
Friday, Sep 29, 2023, 08:00 AM
Monterey Highlands Cafetorium
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Mental Health Lesson (Gr 4-8 only)
Senate Bill (SB) 224 requires schools to provide mental health education for students. AUSD will be utilizing a lesson developed by Erika's Lighthouse, a highly respected mental health education and advocacy organization.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 4/5 may OPT-IN to have students participate by clicking this link.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 6 may OPT-IN to have students participate by clicking this link.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 7/8 may OPT-OUT by clicking this link.
If you would like to hear more information before you decide, please join us for a virtual meeting on Wednesday, September 20 from 6-6:30pm on Zoom. Our school counselor, Ms. Chan, will be available to answer questions. The zoom link for the meeting is zoom.us/my/mh.principal.
Pawsitive Press πΎ
AUSD Food and Wellness Fair - 10.31.23
Monterey Highlands is once again hosting the 19th Annual AUSD Food and Wellness Fair on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. This is a pupil-free day. As the host site, Highlands community members may attend either Session 1 or Session 2.
Please contact the school office to RSVP.
Join us, bring the kids! π¨βπ©βπ¦
Grand Prize Raffle π
Attend Session 1οΈβ£ or 2οΈβ£!
Chromebook Care π»
Please encourage your child to take good care of their AUSD Chromebook.
At this time, we are replacing lost/damaged devices with gently used Chromebooks only. We are not currently issuing any new devices until our inventory is replenished by AUSD.
Please let your child's teacher know if a device or charger is damaged or lost.
Attendance Matters π
Showing up to school every day is critical for childrenβs well-being, engagement and learning.
Below you will find guidance about school attendance as well as information about when you should keep your child home from school.
Avoid your child becoming truant!
Health Guidance
When to Stay Home
Spicy Snack Warning π¨
We have noticed an uptick of students bringing very spicy snacks to school and sharing them with peers.
These snacks include chips and gummi bears that are painfully spicy. Please avoid sending these items to school with your child.
Please remind your child not to share these items with other students. These items may cause nausea, discomfort and other symptoms that interrupt instruction.
Upcoming Dates π
- 9/18-9/22 - Parent Conferences
- 9/19 - Board of Education Meeting
- 9/20 - Mental Health Lesson Information Session on Zoom @ 6pm
- 9/21 - 8th Grade Fundraiser @ Panda Express (takeout/app orders)
- 9/22 - Student of the Month (Cafetorium) @ 8:00am
- 9/28 - Safety Committee Meeting (Zoom) at 3pm
- 9/28 - Fall Pictures (TK-3rd)
- 9/29 - Fall Pictures (4th-8th)
- 9/29 - Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP featuring Mr. Matsuo (Director of Construction)
- 10/2 - 8th Grade Promotion Parent Meeting on Zoom @ 6pm
- 10/3 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/4 - ELAC Meeting #1 @ 6pm (Cafetorium)
- 10/11 - PTA Reflections Student Submission Deadline @ 11:59pm
- 10/11 - PTA Association Meeting @ 6:30pm
- 10/18 - 8th Grade Fundraisder @ The Habit (Garfield/Main)
- 10/20 - Student of the Month (Cafetorium) @ 8:00am
- 10/24 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/24 - Monterey Park Town Hall (Cafetorium) @ 6pm
- 10/26 - Safety Committee Meeting (Zoom) at 3pm
- 10/23 to 10/27 - Red Ribbon Week
- 10/27 - End of Trimester 1
- 10/27 - Spooky Bash! π»
- 10/30 and 10/31 - Pupil Free Days
- 10/31 - AUSD Food and Wellness Fair
Monterey Highlands School
π₯ Email: highlands@ausd.us
π Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
π Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
π² Phone: (626) 570-6220