
Husky Nation Highlights
Community Newsletter - September 3, 2023

Monday, September 4 is LABOR DAY - No School!
✏️ PTA CORNER 🍎
PTA Membership Drive ends on 9/7 @ 3pm
UPDATE: In the spirit of fairness, the winning school will now be based on the highest PTA memberships-to-student ratio. With this change, Brightwood now leads against Monterey Highlands. 😰
But don’t fret, the competition’s not over yet! We have less than one week remaining to take back the lead and win this friendly competition.
No time commitment is required, and ANYONE can join (parents, grandparents, students, aunts, uncles, relatives, friends, alumni, neighbors, community members). Our goal is to have one voice for every child, one member for every student. We are 65% of reaching this goal.
Let’s help Husky Nation win! Join or add more members today by clicking here.
Rewards and raffle prizes will be awarded for eligible students, more information about rewards and raffles is available here. We hope you and your family will join us!
PIZZA + CUPCAKES + POTLUCK + KIDS CRAFTS
The PTA will have its first Association Meeting in the School Cafetorium on September 13 at 6:30PM. All Families Welcomed! Meet fellow students and parents and learn about PTA’s plans for the 2023-2024 School Year. Pizza, cupcakes & refreshments will be provided. Please feel free to bring an item to share. There will also be a kids corner for some fun arts and crafts!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
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 - monthly at recess (9am-11am)
- Spooky Bash planning (PTA)
On Friday, September 1st, the CA PBIS Coalition recognized schools across the state that are moving in the right direction with their PBIS implementation.
Monterey Highlands was honored with a Gold Implementation Award for our efforts to move forward with PBIS. Other AUSD schools that were recognized include Brightwood (Gold) and Repetto (Silver). Click here to learn more!
This work wouldn't be possible without the amazing leadership of our PBIS Coach Mailin Chan and our PBIS/LEAD Team: Khanh Nguyen, Kelly Fukushima, Melissa Kwan, Ashley Orozco, Sara Safa, Lydia Vargas, Calvin Ly and Amy Miller.
Reminders from the Office
- Please report every absence. You can call the office (626.570.6220) or email our registrar to report the absence: rodriguez_rebecca@ausd.us
- Please remember that if your student is absent 5 consecutive days or more due to illness, a doctor's note showing the dates the student was out of school must be provided to return to school.
- Please be mindful of minimum days and dismissal times and ensure your child is picked up promptly.
- Please ensure that any adult picking up your child is on the emergency contacts in Family Portal. We WILL NOT release a student to any individual that is not on the emergency card.
- Please ensure any adult picking up your child has a current photo ID. We WILL NOT release to an adult without identification.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP
You may use the Google Form below to submit questions for Mr. Matsuo ahead of this meeting.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP
- Join us for an informal conversation to discuss what's happening at school. These meetings will be scheduled throughout the year in both a virtual an in-person format.
- 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.
Donations Welcome
Our classroom teachers welcome donations of Kleenex and Disinfecting Wipes at school. This helps us keep classrooms germ-free. Donations may be dropped off in the Front Office or the Valet Line. Please write the teacher's name on the items so that we can deliver items.
Traffic Safety
Please drive safely as you dropoff or pickup your child. This makes school safe for everyone!
- Do not park in front of the school at dropoff. This blocks handicap parking and this area is reserved for the school bus in the mornings.
- Please use the Valet if you plan to dropoff your child at Gate 1 or park downhill and walk them into school.
- Please drive downhill on Pat Carroll slowly and carefully. Be mindful of the crosswalk near the Pavilion. Please slow down in this area!
- Do not park in the red. This is a fire lane and first responders (and school buses) may not fit in this area if vehicles are parked. The school is not responsible for any damages that may result.
Solar Construction Update
- The noisiest phase of construction is over (drilling and steel assembly)
Steel framing is fully assembled and painted
All solar panels have been mounted to the frames
Electrical work is estimated to last at least 4 weeks, through the end of September
Work will remain to repair the blacktop after electrical is complete
Upcoming Dates
- 9/3 - Husky Spirit Store (Final Round) closes for the year!
- 9/4 - LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
- 9/5 - Husky Spirit Orders boxed to teachers and sent home with students 🎉
(All orders will go home with students, call office to schedule a pickup if you prefer)
- 9/7 - PTA Membership Drive/Contest closes @ 3pm...let's beat Brightwood!
- 9/8 - Lockdown Drill, Minimum Day
- 9/11 - 8th Grade Promotion Parent Meeting on Zoom @ 6pm
- 9/13 - PTA Association Meeting (in-person) @ 6:30pm (Cafetorium)
- 9/15-9/22 - Parent Conferences (more information to follow)
- 9/19 - Board of Education Meeting
- 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 & and the AP featuring Mr. Matsuo (Director of Construction)
- 10/3 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/4 - ELAC Meeting #1 @ 6pm (Cafetorium)
- 10/11 - PTA Reflections Student Submission Deadline @ 11:59pm
Monterey Highlands School
Email: highlands@ausd.us
Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
Phone: (626) 570-6220